Female athletes’ fertility is still a blind spot | Letter

<p><strong>Dr Mireia Galian </strong>argues that<strong> </strong>paid, protected time off for fertility assessment and treatment should be standard across women’s sports</p><p>As you report, changes to insurance cover for female athletes following the Carney review are welcome (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/30/landmark-changes-insurance-cover-female-athletes-pregnancy-menopause-karen-carney-review">Landmark changes to insurance cover for female athletes to be implemented, 30 March</a>). Addressing contraception, pregnancy, menopause and other health conditions disproportionately affecting women is long overdue.</p><p>Yet one crucial blind spot remains: fertility. Elite athletes push their bodies to extremes, often with low body fat and intense training, which can disrupt hormones and menstrual cycles. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyd99pkegpo">Nearly two-thirds</a> experience irregular or absent periods, which can affect fertility.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/05/female-athletes-fertility-is-still-a-blind-spot">Continue reading...</a>