Creating Positive Narratives and Behavioral Interventions about Menstruation

My wife and I had a long discussion about exercise a few years ago. At the time, she hadn’t developed a routine for physical activities. Every time her period came, she would feel weak, in pain, and helpless. "It’s impossible to exercise during my period," she said. That thought had been deeply ingrained, passed down like a myth from generation to generation.

But five years ago, everything changed. My wife started exercising regularly at Fitnest Bogor under the guidance of Coach Leony—whom we fondly call Coach Mama. One of Coach Mama's pieces of advice that stuck with her was, "Yes, hormones change during menstruation, but staying active is no problem with the right mindset. If you feel less energy, reduce the intensity. Over time, your body will adapt, and there won’t be any difference between menstruating and non-menstruating days."

From that point, she started slowly. It was tough at first, but the support of her gym community and encouragement from her friends helped her feel capable. Now, menstruation is no longer an excuse to stop exercising. She feels much stronger and more confident, so she even invites me to run during her period.

The University College London Study: Menstruation and Performance

My wife’s experience aligns with scientific findings. A study conducted by University College London and the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, published in the journal Neuropsychologia, revealed that women could perform better in sports during menstruation.

This research involved 241 women tested on various aspects, such as reaction time, accuracy, attention, and decision-making. The results showed that during menstruation, they were, on average, 12% faster in tasks involving ball coordination and 25% more accurate in anticipating movements.

However, participants' perceptions often needed to align with the facts. Many felt worse during menstruation, even though data showed their performance improved. Lead researcher Dr. Flamina Ronca explained that hormonal changes during menstruation—such as a drop in progesterone and fluctuations in estrogen levels—could enhance cognitive and physical responses.

Conversely, during the premenstrual phase (also known as the luteal phase), when progesterone is more dominant, reflexes tend to slow down, and the risk of injury increases. Understanding these patterns can help women strategize their workouts by lowering intensity while remaining consistently active.

Changing Perceptions with the COM-B Model

Shifting perceptions and behaviors around menstruation requires a systematic approach. One effective method is the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behavior). This model explains that behavior is influenced by:

1. Capability: Does the individual have the knowledge and skills to perform the behavior? Educating women about menstruation and exercise can enhance their psychological capability.
2. Opportunity: Does the environment support the behavior? Social and physical support—such as sports communities, menstruation-friendly facilities, and knowledgeable trainers—can create opportunities for women to stay active.
3. Motivation: Is there an internal drive to perform the behavior? Positive narratives and inspiring campaigns can increase women's motivation to exercise, even during menstruation.

This model provides a framework for creating effective and sustainable behavior change campaigns.

MenstruArtsy: Celebrating Menstruation with Joy

At Commcap , where I work, we are launching a MenstruArtsy campaign. This campaign invites Indonesian women to celebrate menstruation healthily and joyfully while encouraging the community to support women's rights related to menstruation.

“We aim to invite all Indonesian women to celebrate menstruation healthily and joyfully while encouraging the community to support women's rights related to menstruation.”

This initiative also advocates for women’s workplace rights, including menstrual leave and other reproductive rights. Providing women a safe and comfortable environment during menstruation can enhance productivity for individuals and organizations.

Join Us in Creating Change

Menstruation is not a weakness but a natural part of women’s strength. We can transform outdated stigmas into stories of courage and empowerment with accurate information, inclusive environments, and social support.

We invite those interested in collaborating, participating, or sponsoring this campaign to contact us. Let’s create a world where menstruation is celebrated joyfully and without stigma.

When women are supported, they can face menstruation with confidence and move forward, thrive, and inspire. Menstruation is not a reason to stop—it’s a reason to keep going ????