It took just a few seconds of live radio airtime to shatter a centuries-old sporting taboo, proving that even in late 2025, female biology remains a battleground in elite sports.

Alex Hartley, the former England spinner turned commentator, is pushing back against a wave of criticism after casually mentioning her menstrual cycle during the BBC’s Test Match Special coverage of the Women’s Ashes. Her refusal to apologize marks a significant cultural flashpoint, challenging the sanitized narrative often demanded of women in the public eye.

A Taboo on the Airwaves

The controversy ignited when Hartley, explaining her mood during the broadcast, admitted she had been “grumpy” because she had started her period during the third Test between England and Australia. It was a moment of unguarded honesty rarely heard in the commentary box.

While the comment was factual, the reaction was polarized. Hartley revealed on the No Balls podcast that while she received significant support, a vocal minority expressed discomfort and hostility.

“I have no problem talking about this sort of thing,” Hartley asserted, rejecting the notion that the topic was unprofessional. “It should be normalised. How is it not normalised?”

The Ripple Effect

Hartley’s stance resonates deeply in a sporting world still grappling with how to accommodate female physiology—from the changing of white shorts in women's football to accommodate period anxiety, to open discussions about performance dips.

The commentator, 32, emphasized that her transparency was aimed at the younger demographic. She argued that hearing a role model discuss menstruation casually could dismantle shame for young girls entering sports.

• The Backlash: Critics labeled the discussion "inappropriate" for sports radio.
• The Support: Hartley reported receiving over 4,000 direct messages (DMs) thanking her for her candor.
• The Impact: The incident highlights the gap between the reality of female athletes and public perception.

“If a young girl is listening to the radio and hears I am on my period she will go ‘oh that is totally normal for people to talk about it’,” Hartley reasoned. “Females shouldn’t be scared to talk about their periods. It is normal and natural.”

A Universal Struggle

While the commentary box was in London, the resonance of Hartley’s words is felt globally, including here in Kenya. The conversation mirrors local efforts to destigmatize menstruation, a barrier that still keeps thousands of Kenyan girls out of school and sports annually.

Just as Kenyan leaders and activists have fought to end "period shame" in parliament and classrooms, Hartley’s refusal to be silenced adds a high-profile voice to the movement. By framing menstruation as a standard biological event rather than a secret, she challenges the structures that have historically ignored women's health needs in athletics.

“I had 4,000 DMs from people saying it was amazing, ‘thanks for talking about it’,” Hartley noted, signaling that the appetite for honest conversation far outweighs the noise of the critics.