In this episode of The Women’s Football Show, Lianne Sanderson sits down with Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, and former Finland international Anne Makinen to explore a major gap in sport science and athlete care: how menstrual health can impact performance—and what the women’s game must do next.
Women’s football has moved this conversation out of the shadows—but the support systems haven’t caught up.
Drawing on findings from Kitman Labs’ menstrual health research study, Stephen and Anne clearly unpack what athletes and staff are saying: menstrual cycles impact performance for many women athletes, yet most still lack the education, structure, and day-to-day support to manage them effectively.
This isn’t only about performance. It’s about long-term athlete health, reducing avoidable risk, and building environments that support women athletes with the same seriousness the modern game demands.
Why Listen
- Why menstrual health support is still inconsistent across women’s football
- What the study reveals about performance impact—and the support gap athletes feel today
- The gender research gap in sport science, and why it limits progress
- Why education and normalization inside clubs are practical first steps
- What meaningful change could look like from leagues, federations, and governing bodies
Hear the full episode with Lianne Sanderson right here—and if you enjoy it, explore more conversations from The Women’s Football Show at shows.acast.com/womens-football-weekly.
