Vanessa has been a keen netballer from a young age thanks to her family, and has enjoyed learning, playing and trying out a bit of umpiring ever since.
‘I’ve always been in the game!’
‘I wish I knew that your menstrual cycle and the symptoms associated with it can change in your mid to late 20s.’
‘It sounds a bit silly to say out loud, but I don’t think people really talk about that change from teenage years and how actually your menstrual cycle can develop over time.’
Vanessa very much thought that it was going to be the same through her twenties as it was in her teenage years, but found that it changed quite significantly.
As a regular blood donor now, it came to light when she went to donate blood that Vanessa’s iron levels were really low.
‘I noticed that my symptoms had changed, I was getting lower back pain, low iron, low energy, fatigue which was then having an impact on my games so I wasn’t able to play four full quarters.’
Staying motivated to play became hard as she struggled more with energy levels.
‘I really had to take notice of that.’
Vanessa decided to take action, she began changing how she was fuelling her body and particularly boosting her iron intake around her menstrual cycle too.
‘Keeping an eye on your body is really important, it’s easier said than done.’
‘I would just really encourage people to make note of those changes and try and work out if there is a pattern forming.’
As Vanessa shares, seeking help if something doesn’t feel right or if you are struggling with changes to your female health is key.
‘It might be something that is worth getting looked at!’
More on period symptoms and strategies here.
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