Periods are quietly showing up in PE lessons every week – in the girl who sits out, the one who’s distracted, the one who’s gradually stopped participating with the same enthusiasm she used to.

Although so many teens experience period struggles, they will often avoid talking about what is going on, and instead withdraw quietly: making it difficult to understand exactly what to do to make things easier and encourage participation.

This means that it is helpful for teachers to know what teen girls most struggle with when it comes to feeling confident exercising on a period, and what teachers can implement in their PE lessons to take some of the pressure off.

The scale of the issue is bigger than many realise.

According to a recent poll on our health and wellbeing app, over two in three girls (68%) say their period has made them want to skip or actually skip sport or PE while only one in five say they carry on regardless^[1].

These stats show the impact of periods on PE isn’t limited to a handful; it is happening in every class, every week, with most girls navigating it quietly, without asking for support.

Periods can create very valid, everyday barriers to PE, and they’re rarely just about physical symptoms:

• Many girls worry about leaks during physical activity^[2]. Being caught without products adds to this anxiety, particularly as only 12% of girls told us they experience regular cycles straight away^[3].
• Cramps and fatigue also effect energy and focus, with nearly one in three girls citing cramps as the biggest challenge they face at school^[4].
• Body changes can also increase self-consciousness – 43% of girls told us this makes physical activity more difficult^[5].
• And for many, the social and procedural pressures add up: 61% say they’d feel frustrated or embarrassed if asked for a doctor’s note to excuse them from PE because of period pain^[6].

For many teens, it isn’t about not wanting to participate in PE. Rather, it is about not feeling safe or comfortable enough to do so. When concerns about leaks, symptoms, and judgement from others all build up, teens can feel alone and overwhelmed.

Teachers don’t need to be experts to offer meaningful support. Thankfully, small, thoughtful actions can transform a girl’s experience in PE:

• Support doesn’t have to be loud: Fostering a culture of “you can tell me as much or as little as you like” can help to remove embarrassment and make participation feel safe.
• Provide period products: If possible, a small basket of period products in the changing room or PE office goes a long way too. Nearly one in three girls say their school either doesn’t offer free products or doesn’t provide enough^[7]. A little support here can be a huge relief. The government provides a period scheme to support free provision.
• Consider how you talk about participation: Phrases like “just push through” or “everyone’s doing it” can feel dismissive. It can help to swap them for “do what feels right for you today” to validate individual experience.
• Normalise modification: You may want to normalise modification by framing rest, reduced intensity, or alternative activities as legitimate choices, not failures. This benefits all students, not only those on their period. This could be subtle, like via an ‘opt-out’ private note system or implementing an easier modification for a particular activity if you sense some girls are not feeling their best.

Studio You and luna exist because every girl deserves to feel confident, informed, and included.

PE teachers are already doing so much to create positive, inclusive experiences – acknowledging periods is just another way to ensure no girl is quietly opting out of something she deserves to enjoy.

To receive some printable resources for your pupils, or more information, visit luna’s school page and fill in the contact form: https://weareluna.app/schools/ and for guidance for parents please see here.

luna is a doctor-backed, parent approved, app for girls built for all the challenges teens face growing up today; providing guidance and resources for managing periods and puberty and everything in between.