Ankita Konwar completed an Ironman while injured and on her period: ‘Do not try this if…’

Ankita Konwar, married to actor Milind Soman, recently completed an Ironman race despite being injured and experiencing her menstrual period. Sharing her accomplishment on social media, she warned that others should not attempt such a feat if unsure of their ability to handle the physical demands. Dr. Gaana Sreenivas, an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, explained that a woman's menstrual status alone does not dictate whether she should avoid endurance exercise or competition.

However, several factors, including the intensity of the event, the severity of symptoms, the nature of any injury, and the individual's training status, should be considered. For an endurance event like an Ironman, proper hydration, carbohydrate and iron intake, and careful injury assessment become crucial. Dr. Sreenivas stated that any acute injury, especially involving a joint, muscle or bone, should not be used as a test of tolerance and warrants medical assessment before participation.

Symptoms such as cramps, heavy bleeding, dizziness, nausea, headaches, or unusual fatigue can affect exercise tolerance, and women with unusually heavy periods should be evaluated for iron deficiency or anaemia. She advised that women should use appropriate menstrual products tested during training and seek professional advice before competing with significant injuries.

While it's not necessary to assume that being on one's period will lead to poor performance or unsafe exercise, it is essential not to push through significant injury-related pain, drastically restrict food or fluids in an attempt to manage weight, or use race day to discover how the body responds to supplements, medication, hydration strategies, or menstrual products.