Summary

Women's participation in sport in India has a long history (references appear as far back as the Mahabharata), fell away for a long period, and rose sharply in the last quarter of the twentieth century. A participation gap between women and men still persists worldwide; schemes such as Khelo India and the NSTSS, IOC efforts (49% women announced for the next Olympics), and the Constitution's guarantee of gender equality all work to close it.

Benefits of participation fall into three groups. Physical — protection against lifestyle diseases, greater bone density, toned muscles, a stronger cardiovascular system, and control of obesity. Psychological — stress management, control of emotions, confidence, self-esteem and leadership. Social — coordination, communication, inter-relationships and cooperation. Participation is widened through support from schools, families, media, women coaches and proper facilities.

Menarche is the first menstruation and the marker of sexual maturity in girls, arriving on average between 8 and 15 years; its timing depends on genetics, socio-economic conditions, health, nutrition, exercise, seasonality and family size. Menstruation is the roughly monthly discharge lasting about 3–5 days from puberty to menopause (around age 50).

Menstrual dysfunction is any abnormal cycle (normal range 21–35 days). Its eight types are pre-menstrual syndrome, amenorrhea (primary and secondary), dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, metrorrhagia and postmenopausal bleeding. Oestrogen and progesterone regulate the cycle, and intense exercise or extreme thinness can disturb it. …