UEFA consensus statement on menstrual cycle tracking in women's football

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Verhagen, Evert
Ferrer, Eva
Antero, Juliana da Silva
Bahtijarevic, Zoran
Barlow, Ally
Bolling, Caroline
Gabarro, Meritxell
Harrison, Michael
Jarrin, Priscilla
Janse de Jonge, Xanne
Paternotte, Emma
Tomas, Rita
Jimenez, Carlos
Keay, Nicola
Lewin, G
et al.
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2025
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Abstract

Menstrual cycle tracking is increasingly recognised as an important aspect of supporting female athletes. However, its application in football remains inconsistent and under-researched. This consensus statement, initiated by the Union of European Football Associations Medical and Anti-Doping Unit, provides evidence-informed guidance on best practices for menstrual cycle tracking in women's football. Developed using the RAND-UCLA appropriateness method, the consensus involved a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the literature and reached agreement on 82 statements across five key domains: the rationale for tracking, meaningful metrics, appropriate methods, implementation strategies and methodological considerations for research. The consensus underscores that while current evidence linking menstrual cycle phases to performance or injury risk remains inconclusive, tracking can support athlete well-being by identifying menstrual irregularities, managing symptoms and enhancing player education and autonomy. Practical recommendations are provided for measuring cycle characteristics, ovulation, hormonal profiles and symptoms, whereas ethical and cultural considerations are emphasised. This statement aims to promote standardised, athlete-centred tracking protocols and establish priorities for practice and future research in female football.

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BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

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11

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3

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© 2025, The Author(s). Published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC 4.0 license and permits non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Verhagen, E; Ferrer, E; Antero, JDS; Bahtijarevic, Z; Barlow, A; Bolling, C; Gabarro, M; Harrison, M; Jarrin, P; Janse de Jonge, X; Paternotte, E; Tomas, R; Jimenez, C; Keay, N; Lewin, G; van den Steen, E; Elliott-Sale, K, UEFA consensus statement on menstrual cycle tracking in women's football, BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2025, 11 (3), pp. e002769

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