{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T03:56:02Z","timestamp":1790913362799,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"15","funder":[{"name":"La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Br J Sports Med"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,5]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To describe the reproductive, pelvic and breast health of retired elite Australian female athletes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Data were collected as part of a larger online cross-sectional survey that was cocreated with female athletes and disseminated to Australian retired elite (international-level and national-level) female athletes aged \u226518 years old and retired from elite competition \u22652 years.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>199 retired female athletes (mean (SD) age 44 (10) years; retired for 16 (9) years; competed for 10 (5) years) across 31 different sports responded to the survey. 23% (46\/199) experienced primary amenorrhoea, and 48% (95\/197) reported ever experiencing secondary amenorrhoea. Of athletes with pregnancy difficulties (n=45), 42% reported menstrual cycle irregularity during their career. Of athletes who gave birth (n=98), 19% had difficulties conceiving, requiring fertility treatments. The majority of athletes reported current symptoms of urinary incontinence (70% (140\/198)) and faecal incontinence (54% (106\/197)). 18% (33\/188) reported that they currently experience exercise-related breast pain; however, 87% (164\/188) reported that breast pain never negatively impacts their current physical activity.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A high prevalence of reported menstrual irregularities, pelvic floor dysfunction and fertility issues highlights the need for early prevention and intervention measures to address long-term health and the unique challenges faced by female athletes during and after their sporting careers.<\/jats:p>\n                  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