Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39217588›Full record

ArticleSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2024

Contraception Choice for Female Endurance Athletes: What's Sport Got to Do With It? A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Stephanie Ryall, Heidi Ohrling, Trent Stellingwerff, Stephanie Black, Kristen Reilly, Jane S Thornton

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Approach to sport-savvy contraceptive counselling for athletes.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Stephanie Ryall *Return to Health and Performance Lab, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. sryall@uwo.ca.ORCID 0009-0003-2492-5198
Heidi Ohrling *Return to Health and Performance Lab, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0009-0000-5534-0940
Trent StellingwerffCanadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, BC, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-4704-8250
Stephanie BlackDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0009-0003-5840-3435
Kristen ReillyReturn to Health and Performance Lab, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7312-5777
Jane S ThorntonDepartment of Family Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-7764-2066

Funding

Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University 4500
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile there are several prescribed contraceptive methods available, limited evidence exists to guide contraceptive decision-making in the context of endurance sport.

objectivesStudy objectives were to characterize current and previous use, perceived impacts, and the decision process around contraceptives in endurance athletes.

methodsThis was an online survey study with female endurance athletes recruited through social media and emails to university/club coaches and sport organizations. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis, respectively.

resultsA total of 323 female endurance athletes participated. Among current contraception users (n = 182), 51% used hormonal intrauterine devices (hIUDs), 29% oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), and 13% nonhormonal IUDs (nhIUDs). hIUD users had the highest perceived positive training (39%) and competition (29%) impacts, citing reduced menstrual bleeding and symptoms as positive side effects. OCP and nhIUD users had higher rates of perceived negative training impacts (OCPs 10%, nhIUDs 30%). For OCP users, 31% reported perceived adverse body composition outcomes and 37% reported negative mood changes. Among nhIUD users, 74% experienced heavier, more irregular menstrual bleeding. Over half of participants were unsure about the impact of their current method on performance. For contraceptive selection, 95% felt that information from physicians was important, yet 32% felt performance was inadequately considered during counseling discussion. Athletes reported less frustration with their contraception choice when counseled in the context of sport.

conclusionsThis exploratory study quantifies and qualifies the lived experiences of female endurance athletes with contraception. hIUDs were the most currently used and well-tolerated contraceptives among participants. This research offers valuable insights for athletes seeking contraception and looking to optimize both performance and health, along with the healthcare professionals guiding them.

Indexed as

AthletesAdolescentAdultChoice BehaviorContraceptionContraception BehaviorContraceptives, OralCross-Sectional StudiesDecision MakingFemaleHumansIntrauterine DevicesPhysical EnduranceSportsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultContraceptives, Oral

Identifiers

PMID39217588
PMCPMC11608295

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.