Periods stopped Vanessa participating in sport and she's not alone

Discovering period swimwear meant Vanessa Ozols didn't have to skip swimming training anymore. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

When she's in the pool, Vanessa Ozols feels safe and accepted for who she is.

As a national-level swimmer with a disability, the community the 20-year-old has formed with other Para swimmers in her training squad means everything.

"I just feel like I have this level of understanding with them, and a strong bond," Ozols told ABC Sport.

When Ozols first started menstruating, managing her period was a challenge, so she would have to skip training sessions.

Difficulties using period products, like tampons, led Vanessa Ozols to try period swimwear. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

Ozols lives with autism, an intellectual impairment, and a rare genetic disorder called hereditary angioedema, which causes swelling all over the body, so using period products like tampons didn't work.

"On days when I've had my period, I just didn't feel very motivated to swim."

Only around 12 per cent of disabled women regularly participate in sport, due to a lack of opportunity, funding and access.

And when it comes to periods, Ozols isn't the only one who struggles.

New research from Victoria University and national period charity Share the Dignity shows 68 per cent of disabled girls and women are regularly skipping sport because of their period.

The vast majority of the 273 people who responded to the survey regularly engaged in sport at all levels. Swimming was the most popular activity.

Victoria University lead researcher Clare Hanlon said sport should be accessible to everyone, and it was time to address the impact menstruation was having.

Clare Hanlon says research into how menstruation impacts disabled women's participation in sport is groundbreaking. (ABC News: Patrick Stone)

"We wanted to identify how and what needs to occur to change this," Professor Hanlon said.

Over a third of respondents avoided sport because they didn't have access to the period products they needed.

Many didn't feel comfortable using pads, tampons and menstrual cups because of sensory issues, while others with physical disabilities didn't have the dexterity to use some products.

Worries about leakage were a concern, which in turn affected confidence. Inaccessible and dirty toilets and change rooms also contributed to period anxiety.

Communication between Vanessa Ozols and her coach Gavin Stewart has been key to Ozols's success in the pool. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)

A lack of education and communication was also a significant issue, with 61 per cent of respondents u