The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has long required student-athletes to complete a physical before participating in sports, but the form was revised in April to include questions for female students about their menstrual periods.
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The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has long required student-athletes to complete a physical before participating in sports, but the form was revised in April to include questions for female students about their menstrual periods.
"Have you ever had a menstrual period?" and "How many periods have you had in the past 12 months?" are two of the questions asked on the form, according to Tulsa ABC affiliate KTUL. It also asks participants to explain more about their menstrual periods.
Some argue the questions are invasive and could be in direct violation of federal anti-discrimination law if used to bar transgender athletes from participating in school sports.
The OSSAA said a national organization, the American Association of Pediatrics, works with the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to create a standard medical history form for students participating in sports.
The OSSAA said the AAP felt it necessary to ask questions about menstrual periods so they could figure out the "female athlete triad" in student-athletes: eating disorders, amenorrhea (loss of a period), and osteoporosis. The organization also said they consult a local medical team for advice on the forms, but the forms are written by doctors throughout the country who specialize in pediatrics and sports medicine.
Last year, the Florida High School Athletic Association backed away from requiring female athletes to disclose their menstrual history to compete.
Related: FHSAA Removes All Mention of Menstruation from Required Medical Form
According to KTUL, the OSSAA discovered they were two versions behind on the standard physical form, so after consultation, the new questions were added this year.
"What the OSSAA has published is the AAP approved PPE (pre-participation physical evaluation form). The OSSAA did not create any questions for the history form or the exam form," an OSSAA spokesperson told KOKH in Oklahoma City.
The AAP's physical form looks almost identical to the new form the OSSAA placed on its website. The AAP form does include questions about menstrual periods.
The OSSAA also told KOKH it does not use the information in any way. A school's designated medical professional accepts the forms and stores them.
"If the school, parent or guardian isn't comfortable with the new history form, the old one can be used," an OSSAA spokesperson added.
