PUMA and Modibodi® commissioned a global survey to investigate why 1 in 2 girls are leaving sport

Sport is all about numbers. And when it comes to the celebration of sport, the goals kicked, and games won are the numbers that take centre stage. But there’s series of numbers that are less well-known: the number of girls leaving sport on a daily basis due to shame and fear of leaks.  

For the launch of our new leak-proof active underwear collection, we partnered with sports company PUMA and commissioned a global survey that investigated the reason girls are leaving sport; shining a light on the numbers that really matter.   

As part of the survey, we spoke to 1000 participants from across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK and Europe. The goal of the survey was to gain insights around how the culture and lack of innovation around periods is holding girls back from participating in sports.  

PUMA and Modibodi® Global Survey into Girls Leaving Sport Results  

Participation whilst experiencing a period as a teen:  

• 1 in 2 skipped sport as a teen because of their period 
• 3 in 5 skipped sport as a teen due to fear of leaking or revealing their period 
• 3 in 4 experienced anxiety/lack of concentration when participating in sport and physical exercise while on their period due to fear of leakage 

Comfort whilst exercising on a period: 

• 1 in 2 experience discomfort from disposable menstrual products like pads and tampons when participating in sport or physical exercise  
• 3 in 5 said they think switching to reliable, reusable period underwear or swimwear would support them to participate in sport and physical exercise 

Discussing periods in public:  

• Over 3 in 5 think periods are stigmatised or seen as shameful in the world of sports 
• 3 in 4 believe periods need to be more openly discussed in the sports world 

• 80% would love to see global athletes discussing their periods/say the culture around periods and sports need to change 
• 83% believe the culture around how periods are discussed in relation to sports needs to change 

Discussing periods at school:  

• 3 in 4 have never discussed their period with their coach 
• 4 in 5 have never received any information about their menstrual cycle and how it relates to sport/exercise from a coach, trainer or school education 

• 3 in 5 don’t feel the education people receive about the menstrual cycle and how it relates to sport/exercise is adequate 

The survey insights show how the culture and lack of innovation around periods is holding girls back from participating in sport. The discomfort of disposable products coupled, from a coaching perspective, with a lack of education and training, has meant that the end result is female players finding the fear of leaking psychologically impacting their sporting performance. 

By releasing the new PUMA x Modibodi range of leak-proof underwear we are hoping to make playing sport on your period more comfortable, more protected, and more possible than ever.  

With a wider waist band to ensure security whilst playing and aerated side panels designed for comfort and to maximise airflow, the PUMA x Modibodi active underwear range offers women and girls the ability to stay active without having to worry about leaks, while reducing their monthly waste from period products. 

Changing the world should be as easy as changing your underwear. Waste-free, leak-free, worry-free protection. 

Discover the range here: https://www.modibodi.com/collections/modibodi-x-puma