Paid Fertility Leave Should Be Standard in Women’s Sports
- Dr Mireia Galian is advocating for a systemic change in women's sports, arguing that paid and protected time off for fertility assessment and treatment should become a standard...
- The push for fertility protections comes amid broader efforts to improve healthcare for women in sports.
- Elite athletes often push their bodies to extreme limits to maintain competitive performance.
Dr Mireia Galian is advocating for a systemic change in women’s sports, arguing that paid and protected time off for fertility assessment and treatment should become a standard requirement. This call for action highlights a significant gap in the health support systems provided to elite female athletes, who often face unique physiological challenges that can impact their ability to conceive.
The push for fertility protections comes amid broader efforts to improve healthcare for women in sports. On March 30, 2026, landmark changes to insurance cover for female athletes were implemented following the Carney review. These updates aim to address long-overdue needs regarding menopause, pregnancy, and contraception, yet Dr Galian identifies fertility as a remaining blind spot in these advancements.
The Physiological Impact of Elite Training
Elite athletes often push their bodies to extreme limits to maintain competitive performance. This typically involves maintaining very low body fat and adhering to intense training regimens, both of which can lead to significant hormonal disruptions.
These physiological stressors frequently disrupt menstrual cycles. According to reports, nearly two-thirds of female athletes experience absent or irregular periods, a condition that can directly impair fertility and make natural conception more challenging.
The timing of these health challenges is particularly critical, as an athlete’s peak competitive years often coincide with their peak biological fertility. Many athletes choose to delay motherhood to prioritize their professional careers, making the availability of fertility preservation and assessment tools essential.
Current Policy Developments in Professional Sports
While fertility-specific protections are not yet universal, some sports organizations have begun implementing supportive policies. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has taken several steps to integrate reproductive health into its athlete support framework.
In 2024, the WTA committed to protecting the rankings of players who take time away from competition to undergo fertility procedures, such as embryo or egg freezing. More recently, on March 6, 2025, the WTA announced the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program provides several key benefits for players, including:
- Up to 12 months of paid maternity leave for eligible players, regardless of their ranking.
- Grants specifically for fertility treatment.
- Parental leave options for non-birthing parents.
Outside of tennis, other sports have established maternity-specific protections. In January 2022, the Football Association (FA) and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) agreed to a policy ensuring players on maternity leave receive 100% of their weekly wage, remuneration, and benefits for the first 14 weeks. This policy is integrated into club licensing agreements to ensure consistency across the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.
In February 2023, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) introduced a policy granting England’s women rugby players 26 weeks of maternity leave on full pay. This policy also allows pregnant players to transition into alternative safe employment within the sport, such as community roles, until their leave begins.
The Necessity of Holistic Health Support
The disparity between the support available to female athletes and their male counterparts remains a central point of contention. Dr Galian notes that the choice between a professional career and parenthood is a decision rarely forced upon male athletes.
Advocates argue that recognizing fertility as a component of holistic athlete health is essential. This involves not only providing financial grants but also offering flexibility and timely options for fertility preservation to ensure that athletes do not have to sacrifice their long-term family goals for their current sporting achievements.
Dr Mireia Galian
Female athletes should not have to choose between career and parenthood – a choice rarely asked of male counterparts.