Carmody Sean, den Hollander Steve, Elliott-Sale Kirsty, Mountjoy Margo Lynn, Thornton Jane S, Massey Andrew, Kerkhoffs Gino, Gouttebarge Vincent
Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Amsterdam Collaboration for Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS), IOC Research Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2024 Jul 29;10(3):e002028. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002028. eCollection 2024.
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.
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.
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.
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.
本研究的主要目的是描述退役精英女足运动员自我报告的生殖健康状况，特别提及月经功能、怀孕与为人母、避孕措施使用及盆底功能。
向在完成调查的10年内从精英足球领域退役的女足运动员（18岁及以上）进行电子问卷调查。
69名受访者完成了调查（平均年龄35.8岁，平均退役年龄30.3岁）。三分之一的参与者自我报告经历过至少一次闭经（停经超过3个月），原因并非使用激素避孕药或怀孕。三名参与者（平均年龄41岁，年龄范围30 - 54岁）报告在研究时已绝经。54名（78.3%）参与者未使用任何形式的避孕措施。17名（24.6%）参与者已为人母（子女数量1 - 3个）。51名参与者（73.9%）从未怀孕，而大多数怀孕者（86.7%）在有怀孕意愿后的不到2年内怀孕。四名退役球员在其职业生涯期间分娩，产后恢复参加竞技比赛的平均时间为22周。参与者的盆底困扰量表 - 20平均得分为72分。
这些见解可用于为未来促进当前、前任和未来女足运动员获得积极生殖健康结果的努力提供参考。研究工作应聚焦于增进对如何在围产期有效支持女足运动员的理解。关于月经周期监测和盆底健康支持使用的最佳实践指南将提高对女足运动员的护理标准。利益相关者应考虑为女足运动员提供针对性别的退役后护理。
