Describing Reproductive and Pelvic Floor Health in Female Former Soccer Athletes: A Preliminary Study

Background: There is limited understanding of reproductive and pelvic floor health in female former athletes. Objectives: To examine lifespan reproductive and pelvic floor dysfunctions among female former collegiate soccer athletes, and examine potential associations between age at start of soccer careers and self-reported dysfunctions. Design: Survey-based cross-sectional study. Methods: Former women's soccer athletes (n = 124; average age = 42.9 ± 12.2 years) participated in a general health survey aimed at capturing physical and mental health dimensions within this population; the present study utilized a subset of data collected as part of the broader project. Prevalence of reproductive and pelvic floor dysfunctions was examined, and associations between the outcomes of interest and age at start of soccer career were assessed using Fisher's exact tests. Results: Under one-quarter of respondents reported not having periods at the time of study participation (n = 29; 23%); with 30 (24.2%) reporting currently being in menopausal transition or being postmenopausal. Fifty-five (44.4%) respondents reported lifetime pregnancies; among them, 21 (38.2%) reported having 1 or more miscarriage. The most commonly reported pelvic floor dysfunctions included accidental urinary leakage (55.6%), nocturia (45.2%), and accidental flatulence (37.1%). Fisher's exact tests revealed several associations between pelvic floor dysfunctions and age at start of career, with higher prevalences of dysfunctions observed among those who reported starting their soccer careers at older ages. Conclusion: Study findings indicate that pelvic floor health warrants further attention among female former athletes, and personal or demographic characteristics may be important determinants of menstrual irregularities and dysfunctions in this population.