Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was
to describe the self-reported reproductive health of
retired elite women’s footballers with specific reference
to menstrual function, pregnancy and motherhood,
contraceptive use and pelvic floor function.
METHODS: An electronic survey was disseminated to
women’s footballers (18 years or older) who had retired
from elite football within 10 years of completing the survey.
RESULTS: 69 respondents completed the survey (mean
age 35.8 years, mean age at retirement 30.3 years). One third of participants self-reported experiencing at least one
episode of amenorrhoea (>3 months without menstruation)
for reasons other than hormonal contraceptive use or
pregnancy. Three participants (mean age of 41 years,
range 30–54) reported having reached menopause at the
time of the study. 54 (78.3%) participants were not using
any form of contraception. 17 (24.6%) of the participants
are mothers (range 1–3 children). 51 of the participants
(73.9%) had never been pregnant, and the majority of
those who had been pregnant (86.7%) became pregnant
in less than 2 years following the onset of desire for
pregnancy. Four of the retired players gave birth during
their playing career, and the mean time to return to
competitive matches following delivery was 22 weeks.
The mean Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 score for
participants was 72.
CONCLUSION: These insights can be used to inform
future efforts to promote positive reproductive health
outcomes for current, former and future women’s
footballers. Research efforts should focus on improving
the understanding of how to effectively support women’s
footballers in the perinatal period. Best practice guidelines
on the use of menstrual cycle monitoring and pelvic health
support would improve standards of care for women’s
footballers. Stakeholders should consider gender-specific
postretirement care for women’s footballers.
