Dr Laura Forrest
Dr Forrest is a dedicated researcher on a mission to empower women and girls through her work in women’s health.
Empowering Women Through Research
Dr Forrest's work as a physiologist gave her a unique insight into the physiological challenges that women face in sport and inspired her to return to academia to help bridge the gap between research and real-world sport.
View Dr Forrest's UWS Research Profile
Making a Difference
Specialising in menstrual health, Dr Forrest’s work focuses on understanding the impact of the menstrual cycle on sports participation and education. Her research looks at female athletes' experiences and aims to foster better menstrual education, encouraging open conversations that empower women and girls to advocate for their health.
The impact of Dr Forrest’s work is clear to see. Working with international rugby players, she was behind first-of-its kind research into the impact of periods on their training and performance.
This research has since grown to include similar studies with Glasgow City Football Club amongst others, and has resulted in the organisations adapting their policies, training regimes, and even kit clothing to better support the needs of their female athletes.
It’s about studying girls and women, how they feel when they play sports at different times of the month and making sure they feel strong and that they have the knowledge and tools to thrive in life and in sport.
Laura's Key Research Projects
How Coaches Can Support Elite Female Soccer Players
Examining soccer coaches’ awareness, perceptions and experiences of the menstrual cycle and the perceived impact on performance.
Read the full paper in the International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching about How Coaches Can Support Elite Female Soccer Players
Pupils’ voices on menstrual cycle education
This study aimed to understand young people’s perceptions and experiences of menstrual education in schools and their experiences of menstruating whilst at school.
Experiences of Elite Female Athletes
Examining elite female athletes’ experiences of their menstrual cycle, its impact on their training and competition performance, and the openness of conversation on menstruation with coaches and support staff.
Read the full paper on the Wiley Online Library about Experiences of Elite Female Athletes
UK Teachers' perceptions of menstrual cycle education
Exploring current education provision in UK schools on menstruation and assessing the perceived support teachers received to deliver menstrual cycle education.
Menstruation experiences of elite female rugby players
Research exploring athletes’ past and current experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle in relation to its impact on sporting performance.
Recognition
The work of Dr Forrest and her team has been recognised by the industry and was awarded the Most Valuable Partnership accolade at the Scottish Women in Sport Awards, for their work with Glasgow City Football Club.
One of Dr Forrest’s proudest achievements was receiving the prestigious Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship, which has allowed her to focus on her research and expand her professional network. Reflecting on her career, she advises her younger self not to be too hard on setbacks.
Challenges are part of the research journey and often lead to valuable learning experiences.
Dr Forrest values the freedom and flexibility she has at UWS to pursue research with real-world impact with the hope of normalising conversations around menstrual health, breaking barriers and ensuring that women and girls everywhere feel supported, informed, and empowered.
Driven
Dr Forrest is particularly passionate about addressing the glaring disparity in research— with only six percent of research focusing on females. Her team of PhD students and external collaborators are working to change that narrative, exploring issues such as menstrual health in disability sports and urinary incontinence in adolescents.
Beyond sports, Dr Forrest is committed to “teaching the teachers,” ensuring that knowledge is embedded within education systems to create supportive environments for all. She believes that menstrual health is not just a women’s issue—it’s a societal one.
By educating both girls and boys, she hopes to break down taboos and promote understanding and empathy.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Dr Forrest’s research aligns with the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): Good Health and Well-being (3), Quality Education (4), and Gender Equality (5).