New data from the Youth Sport Trust shows periods remain the biggest barrier preventing many secondary school girls from taking part in physical activity. Loughborough Lightning captain Nat Panagarry says it is unacceptable that young players are still anxious about the same issues she faced 20 years ago.
Whether it is leaking, cramps, bloating or heavy bleeding, Panagarry is determined to shift the narrative so girls do not drop out at puberty. She remembers worrying about her period at 14 or 15 and, now aged 35, finds it frustrating that the conversation is still not happening widely enough. For her, sport has been transformative—building confidence, friendships and identity—and she wants the next generation to have the same opportunities.
Panagarry believes older women have a duty to speak up. If girls feel they cannot talk about their periods, do not know where to get suitable products, or cannot afford them, those barriers must be removed. In elite sport, Lightning’s staff have increasingly considered how women’s health and the menstrual cycle affect performance, and Panagarry credits that awareness in part for the team’s consistent results. She stresses that discussing cycles with coaches and teammates is not a sign of weakness but a practical step toward better support.
She also supports providing free menstrual products in all women’s public restrooms, and welcomes the growing openness among women and girls to discuss their experiences. Growing up with a no-nonsense attitude meant pushing through for Panagarry, but she now recognises that expecting to give a hundred percent during every training session or match while on your period may not be realistic or healthy.
Leaking used to be a major concern for her, especially during the first heavy days. With light-coloured undershorts she sometimes wore both a pad and a tampon to feel secure. The availability of black undershorts and period underwear through Lightning’s sponsor Hustl has given her much more confidence on court. She has noticed younger players are far more willing to speak up about menstrual issues and praises their confidence and strong voices.
Panagarry admires the next generation—particularly Gen Z—for being outspoken and protective of themselves. In elite netball, where marginal gains matter, small improvements in recovery, nutrition, hydration and women’s health can add up. For her, if talking openly about periods helps even one girl feel her cycle will not stop her from stepping onto a netball court, it is worth doing.
Watch the Netball Super League live on Sky Sports this season. Round six features a double header on April 4, with Nottingham Forest hosting LexisNexis Dragons followed by Loughborough Lightning against Manchester Thunder from 2:50pm.