Do you understand how your menstrual cycle works? 35% of women surveyed say they don't

• Do you understand how your menstrual cycle works?
• A study conducted by PureGym revealed that 35% of the 2 000 women they surveyed admitted they had no idea. 
• Most women who said they tracked their cycles were part of Gen Z. 
• Gen Z also came out tops when surveyed on cycle syncing - adjusting your exercise regime to better fit where you are in your menstrual cycle. 

A recent study by PureGym found that 35% of the women surveyed did not understand their menstrual cycle, its four phases, or how it affected their day-to-day lives.

The study involved 2 000 participants and, alongside uncovering a lack of education about menstrual cycles, highlights how many women find it hard to lead an active life due to menstruation.

READ MORE | From sharp butt pains to period poos: 5 lesser-known menstrual cycle symptoms

Some interesting points highlighted by the study:

Menstrual cycle tracking

Almost half of the women surveyed said they track their menstrual cycles; this is made easy with many apps available for cycle tracking. However, the number is surprising since many women admitted they have limited knowledge about their cycles.

"We're tracking our periods and utilising this tech, but often with very little understanding of its meaning, importance or how it can be used," the study reads. 

Of the 47% of women who track their cycles, most of them are part of Gen Z. Only 23% of those aged 45 to 54 tracked their periods, with 39% having no understanding of how their cycle works. 

Cycle-syncing

The study also looked at the benefits of cycle-syncing - the act of syncing your menstrual cycle to your exercise regime, adjusting the type of workouts you do to better suit where you're at in your cycle and therefore promote an active lifestyle throughout the month. 

Three in five women surveyed said their menstrual cycle affects their exercise regimen to the point where they must stop working out completely until symptoms improve.  

READ MORE | Tailoring workouts to your menstrual cycle may help your physical fitness - but only if done properly

The positive impact of social media

While it does have its dark side, social media has proven to be a handy tool for younger generations who seem to have a better understanding of their menstrual health, as these topics are discussed openly on platforms such as TikTok. 

The survey also showed that 65% of 16-24-year-old females sync their workouts with their cycles compared to just 41% of women aged 25 and over. It shows that more visibility on the subject is helping women learn more about their cycles.  

Find the full study here.