{
  "abstract": "Menstrual cycle tracking is increasingly recognised as an important aspect of supporting female athletes. However, its application in football remains inconsistent and under-researched. This consensus statement, initiated by the Union of European Football Associations Medical and Anti-Doping Unit, provides evidence-informed guidance on best practices for menstrual cycle tracking in women’s football. Developed using the RAND-UCLA appropriateness method, the consensus involved a multidisciplinary expert panel that reviewed the literature and reached agreement on 82 statements across five key domains: the rationale for tracking, meaningful metrics, appropriate methods, implementation strategies and methodological considerations for research. The consensus underscores that while current evidence linking menstrual cycle phases to performance or injury risk remains inconclusive, tracking can support athlete well-being by identifying menstrual irregularities, managing symptoms and enhancing player education and autonomy. Practical recommendations are provided for measuring cycle characteristics, ovulation, hormonal profiles and symptoms, whereas ethical and cultural considerations are emphasised. This statement aims to promote standardised, athlete-centred tracking protocols and establish priorities for practice and future research in female football.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical & Anti-doping Unit, Football Division, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Nyon, Switzerland",
        "Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Evert Verhagen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Barça Innovation Hub of Football Club Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain",
        "Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Eva Ferrer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Research in Medicine and Epidemiology of Sports (IRMES), Université Paris Cité, INSEP, Paris, France"
      ],
      "name": "Juliana da Silva Antero"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical & Anti-doping Unit, Football Division, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Nyon, Switzerland"
      ],
      "name": "Zoran Bahtijarevic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Chelsea FC, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ally Barlow"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Caroline Bolling"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical Department FC Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Meritxell Gabarro"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Chelsea FC, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Michael Harrison"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Medical Department FC Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain"
      ],
      "name": "Priscilla Jarrin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Griffith Sports Science, School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Xanne Janse de Jonge"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands",
        "St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Emma Paternotte"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "FPF Academy, Portuguese Football Federation, Algés, Portugal"
      ],
      "name": "Rita Tomás"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Amsterdam Collaboration on Health and Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands"
      ],
      "name": "Carlos Jimenez"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Keay"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Arsenal Women’s Football Club, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "G Lewin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "AZ Saint John’s Hospital, Bruges, Belgium"
      ],
      "name": "Elke van den Steen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, Manchester, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsty Elliott-Sale"
    }
  ],
  "title": "UEFA consensus statement on menstrual cycle tracking in women’s football",
  "uid": "cda1e122-0bdb-5fe1-b25b-ab042c312beb"
}