Titova Jasmine, Davenport Margie H, Humphrys Alexandra, Hayman Melanie
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Br J Sports Med. 2025 May 27;59(11):798-814. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108380.
To synthesise the existing literature relating to barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy for the purpose of identifying key recommendations and actionable steps to inform the development of pregnancy guidelines to support preconception and pregnancy in national sporting organisations.
Mixed-methods systematic review with thematic analysis.
Four databases (Medline, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO and CINAHL) were systematically searched to identify relevant studies, along with reference lists of included studies until 3 April 2023.
Peer-reviewed primary studies from any date, language and location which identify at least one barrier and/or enabler encountered by elite female athletes during preconception and/or pregnancy were included. Grey literature, books, conference papers and other reviews were excluded.
A total of 29 studies met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. The most common barriers identified were attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of the athlete and society, lack of support provided by sports organisations and lack of evidence-based information available. The most common enablers were specific strategies used by athletes (eg, modified training) to manage the demands of preconception and pregnancy, attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of the athlete, and support of family.
Key recommendations developed from the results are for sporting organisations to (1) develop clear, transparent and multifaceted policies to support preconception and pregnancy; (2) foster supportive environments which offer flexible training, social support and positive promotion of pregnant athletes and (3) provide clear, evidence-based education and information about preconception and pregnancy to athletes, coaches, support staff and organisational staff.
综合现有关于精英运动员在孕前和孕期所遇到的障碍与促进因素的文献，以确定关键建议和可采取的行动步骤，为制定国家体育组织支持孕前和孕期的妊娠指南提供参考。
采用主题分析的混合方法系统评价。
系统检索了四个数据库（Medline、SPORTDiscus、PsycINFO和CINAHL）以识别相关研究，并检索纳入研究的参考文献列表，检索截止至2023年4月3日。
纳入任何日期、语言和地点发表的经同行评审的原始研究，这些研究需识别出精英女性运动员在孕前和/或孕期遇到的至少一个障碍和/或促进因素。排除灰色文献、书籍、会议论文和其他综述。
共有29项研究符合纳入标准。识别出的最常见障碍包括运动员和社会的态度、观念和信念，体育组织提供的支持不足以及缺乏循证信息。最常见的促进因素包括运动员采用的特定策略（如调整训练）来应对孕前和孕期的需求、运动员的态度、观念和信念以及家庭的支持。
根据研究结果提出的关键建议是，体育组织应（1）制定清晰、透明和多方面的政策以支持孕前和孕期；（2）营造支持性环境，提供灵活的训练、社会支持并积极宣传怀孕运动员；（3）向运动员、教练、支持人员和组织工作人员提供关于孕前和孕期的清晰、循证教育和信息。
