Bloody battles are par for the course in sports, but not the kind you might be thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter or the wrestling ring, and let's talk periods.

Alright, now that we've lost the faint-hearted and the squeamish, let's get down to the bloody details. For far too long, young sportswomen have been drop-kicking their passion due to period shame, bowing out when Aunt Flow visits. Enter the underwear superheroes from Knix with a game-changing play - the Sport Your Period campaign.

This campaign has Olympians unapologetically announce, "Yeah, we bleed and still compete like bosses!" and for valuable Canadian dollars, no less. It's about normalizing periods and eliminating menstruation's damage on the self-esteem of young athletes.

Take Megan Rapinoe, a retired U.S. soccer player, who banked a few medals while being part of the Crimson Tide. She puts it out there in the campaign video, stressing how astonishingly uncool it is for teenagers to skip sports events just because they're on their period. As Rapinoe puts it, "Enough with the shame."

Contrary to the whispers in locker rooms and the cruel taunts from ignorant people, there's no discernible evidence that periods negatively impact athletic performance. Yeah, you read that right, folks. Sporting on your period is nothing to be scared of.

So, why are young athletes choosing to quit due to periods? Blame it on the myriad of period myths and societal influences. And let's not forget about the very real fear of period leaks during a high dive or pirouette, which can make Hell Week seem like a cakewalk.

The equation is simple: young people + sports = multiple physical and mental benefits. So, let's clear the path and keep them on the sports field or in the water or wherever their athletic passion lies. That might mean a painkiller to tackle mean period cramps or seeking professional medical guidance to manage menstrual pain.

The most remarkable barrier to participation is period poverty. It's about time we start acknowledging the challenges some young athletes face in accessing health and wellness products during their periods. Helping them gain access to these products along with suitable sports uniform adjustments can keep them in the game.

If periods are causing a lot of discomfort or excessively heavy bleeding, though, that's a red flag. It's time to have a serious talk with your healthcare provider to explore what's going on and how to manage it. Take note, parents- this doesn't always mean poppin' birth control like tic-tacs.

Bottom line- it's crucial to address stigma related to periods and sports participation for young athletes to stay engaged. With the right education and support, these young warriors can embrace their periods unashamedly and continue to charge forward in their sports arena. As Rapinoe puts it, "We all get periods. Let's talk about it."

So, let's normalize periods in sports. The time for change is now. And if not now, then when? When pigs learn to tap dance? We think not.