British long jumper Jazmin Sawyers hails volume of clothing options to help with periods - 'Things are getting better'

British long jumper Jazmin Sawyers has hailed the increased volume of clothing options to help female athletes cope with periods.

As part of 'The Period Panel', a conversation to mark Menstrual Hygiene Day on Sunday May 28, Sawyers discussed her experience of competing in elite sport while simultaneously dealing with the "worry" of periods.

Sawyers was joined by Eurosport's Orla Chennaoui, Arsenal striker Jodie Taylor and women's health and performance expert Dr Emma Ross.

Asked by Chennaoui whether she had ever been self-conscious in her competition clothing while on her period, and whether that factored into her psychological approach to performance, Sawyers said: "So first thing I'll say is that it [the clothing] is a choice.

"The little ones, the little sort of briefs that I wear is a choice. There are longer shorts out there; I think some people worry that we have to wear the tiny, tiny briefs. There are bigger ones available, probably not long enough ones available and there have been conversations about that, but that's for another day.

"Personally, I always say that my period has 'FOMO' [fear of missing out] because every single time I have a major championship regardless of the time, my period is like 'ah something is happening, I want to be here'! So I've got very used to competing on my period. And I've kind of got used to how to manage that. And to not really worry about any leaks or anything.

"But I think people underestimate the kind of worry that can cause and how much of a performance impact just thinking about that can have on an athlete. As well as just changing so that women can be in darker clothing, a lot of brands are now doing period-proof training wear, so shorts and leggings and things - there are a lot of period pants available on the market. So I think if you have a look now, things are getting better and better in terms of specifically made period wear for female athletes. I think that's really on the up and that's something that I've been really pleased to see the availability of things like that.

"Sportswear brands are collabing with period pant companies, and then sportswear brands themselves - for people that prefer not to wear underwear under their leggings or under their shorts - they're making sure that sport is accessible to people and to women all the way through their cycle.

"Occasionally, it has been a worry for me, often because I'll be competing, and my period arrives. It's usually day one, the heaviest day, but I've kind of just got used to that. So I've now got a formula, I know what I need to do. I know what I need to have on hand. I know what needs to be in my bag ready. I know how many times I need to go to the loo and just get everything under control."

"That's what we would describe as like cycle resilience," Dr Ross added. "So it's like you know your cycle, you know what's going to happen and you know what you need and so you have all these habits now that 'OK, it's arrived'.

"It wasn't meant to but OK, kick into these habits of what I do so that I feel great and I can go out and compete and jump brilliantly, and that's where we all need to get to as women, isn't it? So that we can really navigate our cycle in such a positive way."

Commenting on England's women changing to wear darker shorts for the upcoming 2023 World Cup, Taylor said: "I’m very happy about that. I always seem play for teams that have white shorts and I hate it. I really hate it.

"I think the awareness of it now and how clubs and organisations are willing to make change is very pleasing.

"I hate white shorts. I'm really happy to get rid of them."

Sawyers' comments came in the same week an action shot of triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne was branded "not the most flattering" by someone online, who suggested it should be cropped as it showed her on her period.

Pallant-Browne spoke out in response, saying it was something she is "not shy to talk about", prompting an outpouring of public support on social media.

"Humbled by the amount of messages I’ve had from both men and women about the unglamorous reality of racing on your period," she wrote on Instagram.

"This is true female sport and the more barriers we can break through the better.

"If you wrote to me saying 99% of the women you know would be mortified at this then that is exactly why I am sharing this, because there really is nothing wrong. It's natural and coming from eating issues as an endurance runner when I was growing up where I didn’t have my period, I now see it as beautiful.

"So if you have a photo like this, save it, cherish it, remember how you performed on a tough day because one day you might just be able to help someone else with it."