‘I felt uncomfortable’: Jessica Ennis-Hill claims she felt she could never talk about her period because of the ‘male dominated’ environment in the sport
Jessica Ennis-Hill has revealed that throughout her career she has been unable to talk to her coaches or teammates about her period because it is such a “male-dominated” environment.
The athlete, 37, admitted she was too “uncomfortable” to talk to male coaches and athletes within Team GB about her hormones and menstrual cycle.
However, it is only after retirement that she realizes the importance of the subject – insisting, ‘More needs to be done’.
The star – who won gold in the women’s heptathlon at Super Saturday in London 2012 – said as women go through different phases in the month they can feel stronger, more confident or more tired or bloated.
She told the Mid Point Podcast: “It still amazes me that there is actually so little research and time and investment going into understanding these massive phases that we go through as women.
‘I felt uncomfortable’: Jessica Ennis-Hill has claimed she felt she could never talk about her period due to the ‘male dominated’ sports environment (pictured in December)
Difficult: The athlete, 37, admitted she was too ‘uncomfortable’ to talk to male coaches and athletes within Team GB about her hormones and menstrual cycle
“More needs to be done.”
Ennis-Hill revealed that throughout her career she had no idea that her physical fitness and strength could be affected by the menstrual cycle.
She said, “That was what struck me the most, that when I look back at my career, we were so focused on psychology and sleep and nutrition and all these important elements.
“But really the whole hormonal side — which has been a constant for every woman, it happens whether you like it or not — has never really been looked at in depth.
“I look back and I think that was partly because I was in a very male-dominated environment and I wasn’t comfortable with those conversations with a male coach and a male team.
“But there’s also just a lack of energy and money and time to explore how we’re affected by these fluctuations and hormones throughout the month.”
“There’s been so little research on this, but we as women know that you can stop any woman on the street and she’ll be able to say, ‘I feel different this time of the month’ or ‘I have a range of symptoms.’
“We feel like we just have to get on with it and it’s just what we feel on a monthly basis — but actually there’s a way to better understand our hormones and use them to our advantage.”
Stunning: Jessica’s statements come after she attended the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards at MediaCityUK, Salford, in December with husband Andy Hill
Jessica’s statements come after she cut a glamorous figure when she attended the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards at MediaCityUK, Salford in December.
She made sure all eyes were on her as she walked the red carpet with husband Andy Hill.
The Olympic champion put on a light blue midi dress with an off-shoulder detail and waisted with a silver belt.
Jessica added height to her body with a pair of peachy heels and styled her locks into loose waves for the evening.
Her partner Andy looked smart in a navy blue suit that he paired with a white shirt and light blue tie.
The couple tied the knot in 2013 and are parents to eight-year-old Reggie and four-year-old Olivia.