The last taboo in sport: 'I have nightmares about getting my period at Wimbledon'

The ‘last taboo’ for women in sport has officially been broken.

British number one tennis player Heather Watson has explained why she lost in the first round of the Australian Open this week. Namely she experienced dizziness, nausea and low energy levels that were so bad she was forced to call a doctor towards the end of the first set.

When asked about it, she told BBC Sport: “I think it's just one of these things that I have, girl things.”

By referring to her period, Watson has done something that hasn’t ever really been attempted before - she’s brought menstruation into the sporting world and opened it up for discussion.

Her comments even led former British number one tennis player Annabel Croft to admit that periods have: “Always been a taboo subject.”

She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Women's monthly issues seem to be one of those subjects that gets swept under the carpet and is a big secret.

"I think women do suffer in silence.”

Tara Moore, 22, is a tennis player, friend of Watson and the current British number five. She tells me this is true - periods can really affect a player’s performance, especially when they’re not discussed openly.

“For sure it’s tough. Anything that inhibits your performance will be tough. It’s hoping your tournaments don’t coincide with it.

“We have to deal with another element that no one speaks about really.”

She tells me that her period has fallen during major tournaments for the past six years – and last year she had to play a four hour match in the middle of it .

It’s why she thinks the sport's governing body should consider changing the rules about toilet breaks.

Currently players can only take a break once every set.

“That should be enough really but if it’s a long set it can be tough,” she admits.

_{Annabel Croft thinks periods are taboo in sport}

Wimbledon’s insistence that all players wear white is another issue for women on their periods.

“At Wimbledon we have to wear white, so it’s quite a big deal. Especially because male players don’t understand that we have another element to deal with.

“[Bleeding on your uniform] is something you feel quite worried about. If something like that happens it’s mortifying – it’s a nightmare.

"I have had nightmares about that before.”

She doesn’t think that Wimbledon should alter its rule – “you can’t change tradition” – but thinks it’s something that people need to be aware of, and think about.

What's more, she explains, periods can often affect a player’s coordination, energy levels and even their judgement.

Watson is her friend, and Moore tells me she can often struggle during menstruation. On top of that, she tells me that not all players know how best to deal with their periods. It's a big issue.

_{Heather Watson}

“A lot of players don’t take enough supplements, drink enough water, or take painkillers when they should,” she explains.

“A lot of painkillers specifically for [periods] are banned. Some of them contain performance enhancing drugs.

“In that sense there should be something that could be done, there should be something specifically made.”

It’s why she thinks that the governing bodies in tennis should educate players about being on their periods. Some players take the contraceptive pill, which can prevent periods, but Moore says that often doesn’t reduce the side effects such as bloating and tiredness.

“It’s a taboo subject even in everyday life. With the [International Tennis Federation] they don’t tell you [how to deal with periods], especially juniors when girls are travelling by themselves at 16, 17, 18.

"There should be something sent out to explain what can help. It’s up to the governing body to educate the players.”

In hockey, it’s a slightly different story.

Hannah Macleod, a member of Great Britain’s women’s hockey team, tells me that menstrual cycles are a big part of team training and discussion.

_{Hannah Macleod playing against China}

“We actually had our menstrual cycles tracked by our coach for a year prior to the Olympics. It was to get an idea of what stage we’d be at, during our cycles for the games.

“It’s something we have never been shy talking about.

"There’s a vast difference from athlete-to-athlete in terms of what they suffer. Some players get a bit moody and lose coordination. Exercises can feel a little bit harder, and it can change your body temperature.”

Macleod says that her team members still email their period cycle dates to their coach. The information is used to help them train – some lift different sized weights at the gym, depending on where they are in their cycle.

It’s something she thinks other teams could benefit from - as well as sole athletes, such as tennis players, who don’t have a team to discuss this information with.

But although periods aren’t taboo for GB’s hockey team, Macleod says players can still have nightmares about their them:

“It’s the little things like drug testing. It can really embarrass you if you’re on your period and you’re told you need to have a [urine] drug test.

"It’s just embarrassing.”