In this episode we have Sophie Jenz with us, a rising star in the field of neuromuscular physiology research. Sophie has an interesting background with lots of experience in applied practice of strength training for females, which ultimately directed her to her current research area. Sophie is coming to the end of her PhD and her work so far has certainly impacted the way in which we think about females in this area of research. Tune in to here more about the specifics of how and why the horm...
On this weeks episode Georgie and Jess discuss the many extras that can influence the way our hormones work and fluctuate. Many of us are aware of the implications of energy availability on menstrual cycles and the regularity of female sex hormones, but energy is not the only factor at play. There are many other things within our environment that can impact the way our hormones work. The covid-19 pandemic was a good example of this and some of our own research showcased the impact of en...
In this episode Jess speaks with researcher and SENr registered nutritionist Samantha Abbott. Sam has a wealth of knowledge around female athletes, the menstrual cycle and gut health/symptoms. She has also worked with athletes on an individual basis at varying levels so is able to provide advice from both her academic knowledge and applied practice. Gut health has received a lot of attention in the media lately and a lot can be a little confusing. This episode should provide clarity on why th...
In this episode Georgie and Jess are joined by Olympian Adelle Tracey who shares her experiences of getting into the sport, her understanding of the menstrual cycle and how she uses this now to inform her training. Adelle is a great example of how tracking and an increased understanding of your menstrual cycle can enhance training and performance.
In this episode Georgie and Jess revisit some of the tips around tracking your menstrual cycle and why it can help female athletes utilise their super power! Although this topic has been covered before there are still many questions on the do's and don'ts, so hopefully this episode provides a means to get started!
We live in a world where we can measure almost everything about ourselves. Heart rate, sleep scores, stress scores, training loads, heart rate variability the list is ultimately endless! On one hand this demonstrates substantial improvements in technology, but on the other side this can be quite overwhelming and sometimes might result in missing training/exercise when we don't necessarily need to. Georgie and Jess take a deep dive into what this data means and how you can manage it sensibly, ...
After a long stint away from the podcast The female athlete podcast is finally back! This episode unpicks all the reasons why we should and need to acknowledge sex differences within both sport and research. Dr Georgie Bruinvels and Dr Jessica Piasecki delve into some of the reasons why males and female are physiologically different and how we can utilise these differences in a positive way. Sex differences of course occur within the science but this actually may be visible in oth...
This episode takes a dive into the experiences of Olympian Steph Davis and elite triathlete turned marathon runner Heather Townsend. Steph finished top GB finisher at the Tokyo Games and last October had her first child. Heather competed regularly on the international triathlon circuit and has twin boys and balances full time work. Both are super female power houses and had very different pregnancy and post partum experiences. A very insightful episode!
In this episode we chat to Sian Allen who is the research manager with the product innovation team at Lululemon. Hear how to Sian applies scientific knowledge to key aspects of sports wear development and the fundamentals when it comes to sports bras! Also featured are NTU researchers Dr Katy Griggs and Katie Reeves who have some exciting work in this area with regards to appropriate sports bra's across all stages of the female lifespan! We hope you enjoy!
It's a busy one! In our final episode of Series 5, we answer two questions around the mirena coil, discuss how to deal with the impact of puberty on performance, why it's important to listen to your body when training through pregnancy and we give our book recommendations as we head into the autumn months! Thank you again for providing us with some interesting topic points. Keep your questions coming! Visit the link in our Instagram to submit a question. Books: Choosing to Run: A Memoir, De...
In this episode we are joined by Sue Anstiss MBE and Dr Ali Bowes to talk about the recent Netflix documentary 'Game On- The Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport'. Sue was the presenter and producer of the documentary which highlights some of the issues historically faced by women in sport and the knock on effects still impacting women and girls today. We discuss barriers placed in the way of women taking part in sport such as the female frailty myth, inappropriate clothes women have traditi...
In this episode we speak to long-distance triathlete Emma Pallant-Browne. Recently Emma raced whilst on her period and bled through to her race suit...and it made the news. When a Twitter user called out a picture taken of Emma during the race to be cropped so the blood wouldn’t show, Emma responded in such an empowering and honest way (check out her most recent post on Instagram) and the text below. Emma wrote in response to the tweet: "Thanks for caring but definitely something I’m not sh...
In this episode we cover breast injuries and breast pain, including how common it is, why breast injuries in particular go under-reported, plus what you can do to help, such as wearing a correct sports bra and tracking breast pain throughout your cycle. We also cover how to stay motivated during periods of injury and why doing research in females is so hard, and the areas which need more attention (all!) Thank you again for providing us with some interesting topic points. Keep your question...
In this episode we discuss the relevance of International Women's Day (this episode was recorded on 15th March), and we answer listeners questions around osteoporosis, osteopenia, and ask can the pill mask a menstrual dysfunction such as amenorrhea? The team also give strategies and tips around how to help get your period back when coming off the pill. Plus, we discuss the various menstrual cycle technologies and apps, including period relief device Myoovie. Thank you again for providing ...
In this episode we answer listeners questions across a range of topics. Including: What are the key things women should be aware of in regards to iron? How can endometriosis sufferers tailor their training? Plus, we give advice and personal stories about social media comments and abuse and how best to deal with it. We also recommend an awesome new book around women in running and the inequalities they face, plus how we can help create change. Link below. Thank you again for providing us wi...
Our questions this week are around coaching the female athlete. We chat about the challenges for male coaches and ask are females the preferred option? Also, should National or World Governing Bodies be expected to take on the responsibility of educating their athletes or should it fall to parents? We discuss how we can ensure coaches and clubs are educated on the various topics of female athlete health. Plus, we answer a question on the culture of running and weight and the con...
In our second episode back, we're chatting through more listener questions and we're focussing on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). We cover what RED-S is, how it may present, how to deal with RED-S when returning from having a baby and the difference between RED-S and Overtraining Syndrome. Send in your questions for future episodes here. Helpful resources: Returning to running postnatal guidelines Project Red-S: Pippa Woolven *Disclaimer: Materials and content in the Female ...
We're back for Series 5 and answering your questions! In this episode we catch up with all the happenings of the past six months, highlights include travels to New Zealand, getting married, buying a house and competing in the World Championships to name a few! But enough about us, we're back to answer our listener questions around female athlete health. This episode sees us chat about the menstrual cycle and training, how to adapt in different phases, plus how injury and illness may be ...
In this episode we speak about a topic close to our hearts: how to get more people speaking openly about the menstrual cycle and why it is so important the area becomes less stigmatised. We ask when is it the right time to bring it up with your coach as an athlete and vice versa or as a parent. We give our top tips for starting this conversation both at home and in a sports setting and more generally with your friends and colleagues. We speak to ten time Olympic swimming medalist Allison S...
How about we cover all stages of the female life cycle in one episode? Let's do it! From puberty, menarche and menstruation, to pregnancy, peri-menopause and beyond, in this episode we discuss the physiology, hormonal changes, nutrition and exercise requirements of the female life cycle. We also touch on bone health through the different stages and the wellness and mental health aspects of going through puberty and peri-menopause. Plus we chat about the research relevant to the various st...