Improving Menstrual Health Literacy in Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity Environments

This chapter conceptualises menstrual health literacy as a multidimensional, relational, and context-dependent capability shaped by intersecting societal, personal, and situational factors. It is defined within sport, exercise, and physical activity settings as the capacity to access, understand, evaluate, and apply menstrual health information to support girls&s; and women&s;s participation, performance, health, and well-being. Despite its importance, menstrual health literacy remains limited across diverse populations, with persistent gaps in knowledge, communication, and organisational support. These deficits are compounded by stigma, misinformation, and the normalisation of menstrual disturbances. Furthermore, tools currently available to assess menstrual health literacy lack validity, standardisation, and practical application. This chapter introduces a conceptual model to support applied understanding of menstrual health literacy in sport, exercise, and physical activity, and offers practical recommendations. Evidence-informed strategies are presented to strengthen menstrual health literacy at individual, interpersonal, and organisational levels across populations and cultures. The chapter concludes that advancing menstrual health literacy requires a shift from individual-level education towards systemic, inclusive, and context-specific approaches that embed menstrual health into everyday practice, enabling equitable, informed, and sustainable participation for girls and women in sport, exercise, and physical activity.