The boundaries of female athleticism are expanding in thrilling ways, yet the research supporting women's unique physiological journeys lags significantly behind. From my recent experience at the Female Athlete Conference in Boston, I've returned brimming with insights about how we're finally beginning to address this disparity.

What makes this biennial gathering extraordinary is the spirit of collaboration. Sports medicine physicians, obstetricians, researchers, physical therapists, nutritionists, and coaches share knowledge freely, recognizing that advancing women's sports medicine requires collective effort rather than competition. This stands in refreshing contrast to the typically siloed approach in both healthcare and academia.

A powerful theme emerged around trusting athletes to tell their own stories. In the shadow of the USA Gymnastics abuse scandal, healthcare providers are recognizing how critical it is to center athletes in their care decisions. This parallels what we need in maternal healthcare – placing the birthing person at the center while providers serve as supportive guides rather than authority figures. The most successful approach appears to be multidisciplinary, as demonstrated by the US rowing team where two athletes had babies three months apart during Olympic training and returned to win medals with comprehensive support.

The conference revealed fascinating nuances about menstrual cycles, with research showing extreme variability in cycle length, ovulation timing, and hormone profiles among athletes. This variability makes generic cycle-syncing workout programs virtually impossible to implement effectively. More concerning were discussions around fertility risks in elite sport, where high training volumes combined with inadequate fueling can lead to anovulatory cycles even when menstruation appears regular.

Perhaps most exciting was the focus on previously neglected populations – particularly masters athletes navigating perimenopause and menopause. With some women transitioning directly from postpartum to perimenopause (especially those having children in their 40s), there's an urgent need for research in this area. Equipment design also emerged as a critical barrier, with revelations about cyclists undergoing labioplasty because bike seats weren't designed for female anatomy.

The most profound reframing questioned why we measure women's sporting advancement by how closely it approaches men's sports. What if instead, we focused on making women's sports the absolute best they can be without male performance as the benchmark? This perspective shift invites us to value women's sport for its unique contributions rather than as a perpetual game of catch-up.

Join me as we continue exploring how these emerging insights can support your journey as an active woman through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond!

___________________________________________________________________________
Don't miss out on any of the TEA coming out of the Barbell Mamas by subscribing to our newsletter

You can also follow us on Instagram and YouTube for all the up-to-date information you need about pelvic health and female athletes.

Interested in our programs? Check us out here!