My Journey Through Menstrual Health Struggles

Picture this: A 13-year-old girl on the slopes, training hard, chasing her athletic dreams. But every month, she's bleeding through her thermals, missing crucial training days because she's curled up in bed in agony. That girl was me.

If you're a woman in sport who's gone through something similar, I'd genuinely love to hear from you. Reach out, let's chat.

The Beginning

At 13, I thought it was normal that I was missing training because of debilitating cramps. The advice I was given was to go on the pill, as it had other women. It was the only option I was given to combat my symptoms when I saw the doctor. And still seems to be the main solution when I speak to a doctor.

It helped for a while. I wasn't bleeding as heavily and wasn't missing as many training days from the pain. But the pain was still there. And slowly, other symptoms crept in. Strong migraines that would have me in bed in complete darkness, which was a side effect I unaware of.

Throughout university, things got worse. I'd stopped skiing by then and was focused on gym training, but my body had other plans. Continuous sinus infections. Recurring tonsillitis. Doctors thought I might have a stomach ulcer and warned me I'd need surgery if the sinus infections continued. Despite being on the pill, I still had excruciating period pain, migraines, and severe PMS symptoms.

I was constantly ill, constantly struggling, constantly given antibiotics or a different pill to try (which, bear in mind, takes a very long time for your body to settle to).

Taking Control of My Health

At 21, I started connecting the dots. Maybe the pill that was supposed to help was actually harming me. I'd spent hours researching, trying to understand what was happening to my body while doctors dismissed my concerns. So I came off the pill. A year later, I tried the coil instead, hoping it might be better. Same PMS symptoms. Same acne.

Then I moved to Thailand. Two months in, something felt very wrong. The coil was causing constant nausea, pain, and a swollen belly. I was close to having a cervical infection when they finally removed it, and I needed antibiotics to stop it from progressing. I won't go into detail…

One thing I didn't know for a very long time was that every time you have antibiotics, you should take a course of pre and probiotics afterwards. I had so many courses of antibiotic treatments. I couldn't even give you the exact number.

After many doctor's appointments, I felt like I was back at square one. Doctors told me I had PMS and PMDD, and that I needed to make "lifestyle changes." Zero support or guidance on what that actually meant.

The Expensive Search for Answers

Here's what they don't tell you about being a woman with health struggles: It's expensive. Really expensive.

I turned to a nutritional women's health specialist and spent hundreds of pounds on consultations, a gut 360 test, then £400 more on 12 different supplements that only made me feel worse, and are now still sat in a drawer... I'd eat and swell up like I was nine months pregnant, with extreme stomach pains.

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy. They found I had a twisted bowel, though I'm still unsure what this means for me. Countless ultrasounds came back "clear," even though the doctor suspected endometriosis based on where my pain was. I tried hormonal tablets for the suspected endometriosis, but they were costly and didn't support my mental health.

I've definitely downplayed this. I've spent a ridiculous amount across the years trying to get help.

The Breakthrough: Taking Control

Moving to Thailand became a turning point. I dove deep into research about diet, gut health, and period symptoms. The constant stomach cramps and running to the toilet after every meal were my main concern.

I'd read about cutting out dairy if you were a "snotty kid," always getting colds and sinus infections. That was me.

Through German electrodermal testing, I discovered I was allergic to MSG (which is in everything in Thailand), yeast, and several other foods. Four months of probiotics, going gluten and dairy-free, cutting out alcohol and inflammatory food triggers... suddenly, my gut health improved dramatically. No more pregnant-looking belly. No more constant stomach upset. No more predictable monthly sinus infections. And I wasn't getting ill every few weeks.

Where I Am Now: Still Working On It

Today, I'm in a completely different place. My first year in Thailand was probably my worst, which became a pivotal point for me to take action. Obviously, other things came into it: extreme fatigue, brain fog, and stress because of all these factors, and I'd moved to the other side of the world on my own.

The situation I'm in is definitely better, but I'm not cured and I have to manage my lifestyle and symptoms now. My main challenges still revolve around cycle symptoms, but I'm on month four of trying DITTO daily supplements, specifically designed for women's menstrual health. So much has changed, but that's a blog post for another day.

p.s. supplements back by science and insane personal reviews!

What I Want You to Know

If you're struggling with your health as a female athlete, here's what I wish someone had told me:

Your symptoms are real. Even if they're invisible to others, they're there. You're living with them every single day, and just because people can't see them doesn't mean they're not impacting you. You don't want to constantly talk about it, and you shouldn't have to justify yourself. Don't let anyone dismiss them as "normal" or tell you to just deal with it. Prioritise what makes YOU feel good.

You might have to become your own researcher. Educate yourself and ask questions. There's also more access to support and advice now. I listen to podcasts and follow many female health doctors online.

It's going to be expensive and frustrating. Budget for private testing if you can. I'm very lucky that I've had parental support with costs of some treatments. Going to the doctors all the time is mentally draining, but don't give up, because only you know if something isn't right with your body.

Document everything. I use Stardust to track my cycle and symptoms, but I have random notes about past symptoms scattered everywhere. I wish I'd made an organised, timelined log of this.

Why I'm Sharing This

It feels as though there are so many barriers for women in sport. From lack of research on female physiology to medical dismissal to the financial burden of seeking proper care. These barriers make things like exercise feel limiting. Pilates has become a trend for 'low inflammation fitness, but there are many Elite and Olympic athletes that suffer with the same issues and haven't let that stop them. Sport and exercise is something that makes me feel good, which is why I prioritise it.

I want to support others even if that's just initiating conversations. I certainly don't have all the answers and am still learning, but the knowledge out there is improving at a much faster rate than ever before.

If you're looking to build strength, learn how to train with your body, or just want some guidance on programming that works around your life, get in touch. I'm here to help you find what works for you, not just what works in theory.

If this resonates with you then I'd love to hear from you. Reach out or share this with someone you might think would enjoy the read. Or follow along for more support and guidance like this.