More than a third of girls in Year 7 and above say that periods stop them taking part in physical activity, according to a survey.
The Youth Sport Trust survey about pupils’ views on organised physical activity also highlights concerns that boys are more likely than girls to feel positive about PE.
Periods are one of the main factors underlying girls’ concerns.
Some 37 per cent of girls cited having their period as a barrier to being more active at school.
The survey reveals that 43 per cent of girls in Year 7 or above said they would feel “not at all” comfortable discussing the issue with their teacher during PE.
When asked how schools could help them take part in PE during periods, the most common response cited by 40 per cent of girls was greater “flexibility”.
Previous research has found that rigid approaches to PE can deter many girls from taking part in PE and physical activity.
Support sought from teachers
Among the girls surveyed by the Youth Sport Trust about periods, 70 per cent reported pain or discomfort as a concern during PE, 62 per cent worried about leaking and 60 per cent said they lacked energy.
Many girls surveyed called for greater understanding from teachers and access to sanitary products during PE.
The Department for Education’s provides free period products to girls, with funding given to schools based on 35 per cent of the number of girls in a school who are likely to have started their periods.
The 35 per cent is an assumed take-up rate. In , the DfE said 99 per cent of secondary schools had signed up to the scheme since it began in 2020.
The survey also found that 46 per cent of girls always participated in PE during their period, compared with 8 per cent who said they never did.
While 37 per cent of girls cited periods when asked if anything stops them from being active/more active in school, there were three more common answers: “when it’s outside and it’s not nice weather” (41 per cent); “I don’t like getting hot and sweaty” (40 per cent); and “I don’t like other people watching me” (40 per cent).
Girls less likely to enjoy PE than boys
Today’s findings come as the Youth Sport Trust is highlighting a significant gender divide in pupils’ experiences of school sport: just 64 per cent of girls said they enjoyed PE, compared with 86 per cent of boys.
More than half of girls reported doing no physical activity at school outside PE lessons, compared with 37 per cent of boys.
However, 62 per cent of girls said they wanted to be more active at school.
The Youth Sport Trust’s Girls Active survey, conducted between January and June 2026, drew on responses from nearly 18,000 pupils across primary and secondary school. Optional questions on periods were answered by 4,487 girls in Year 7 and above.
Gender stereotypes growing
Pupils are increasingly likely to believe certain sports are only suitable for one gender, the research reveals.
The proportion of boys agreeing that “some sports are for boys and some sports are for girls” has increased from 35 per cent in 2023-24 to 41 per cent in 2025-26, according to the charity.
Among girls, agreement rose from 20 per cent to 25 per cent over the same period.
Fewer than half of girls believed they had the opportunity to participate in the same range of sports as boys during PE, compared with 67 per cent of boys.
Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said the success of female athletes was not translating into equal experiences for girls in school sport.
“It’s really concerning our results reveal a growing trend for girls and boys to see some sports belonging to a single gender,” she said.
Ms Oliver added: “The systemic change we need starts at home and in school, through beliefs, attitudes and equal access and opportunity for girls.”
