The awareness surrounding the knowledge gap in women’s health in Australia is steadily increasing. A variety of concerns, such as the distinct symptoms of heart attacks in women and the typical seven-year wait for diagnosing endometriosis, highlight the insufficient focus on conditions that disproportionately affect women.

Historically, research has mainly concentrated on male subjects, leading to conclusions that are inapplicably generalized to female and intersex populations. Alarmingly, only about six percent of research in sports science and sports medicine specifically addresses female health issues.

A Collaborative Approach to Understanding Research Gaps

To address these disparities, Australian researchers are embarking on a significant initiative in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Edith Cowan University, and the University of Technology Sydney. They are constructing an evidence gap map that will summarize existing health and performance data, while also identifying quality and significant research gaps that require further investigation.

The AIS aims for these findings to prompt governments and academic institutions to invest in previously overlooked research areas, ultimately providing high-quality information that athletes, coaches, and sporting organizations can utilize.

Prioritizing Quality in Research

According to AIS Chief Science Officer, Paolo Menaspà, the emphasis should not only be on the quantity but significantly on the quality of evidence available for athletes and high-performance staff. He remarked, “There is a growing concern that sometimes the threshold for what is good quality kind of moves.”

A crucial aspect of their project will involve performing a “systematic assessment … of the quality of each study,” focusing on potential biases to ensure athletes and coaches have access to reliable evidence.

Feedback from Athletes and Coaches

In planning this initiative, researchers engaged with athletes and coaches to identify key concerns. Suggested priority topics include:

• Menstrual and gynecological health
• Illness and infection
• Bone health and nutrition

Dr. Rachel Harris, Female Performance and Health Initiative Lead at AIS and a former professional swimmer, pointed out the limited research currently available, which often overlooks the effects of sex and gender, resulting in inadequate diagnoses and treatments.

“We want that information that gets to our athletes to be based on high-quality research that’s going to benefit them, not from low-quality research that is just flash in the pan,” stated Dr. Harris.

A Global Collaboration for Female Athletes

This research initiative coincides with the establishment of the Global Alliance for Female Athletes, launched in March, where AIS is a founding member. This international partnership includes organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, focused on sharing best practices and enhancing the health and performance of female athletes globally.

Dr. Harris highlighted that this collaboration arose from the realization among high-performance staff across different countries that they were confronting similar challenges, often with limited resources.

Addressing Real-World Implications of Research Gaps

The importance of both the Global Alliance and the evidence gap initiative cannot be understated, as they recognize the physical and psychological toll that inadequate research can impose on female athletes.

In a notable instance, retired American soccer player Megan Rapinoe mentioned on her podcast that her three ACL injuries occurred while she was menstruating, sparking new interest in research investigating the relationship between women’s health and athletic performance.

Dr. Harris has observed a rising interest in women’s health and performance, attributing this trend to increased visibility of female athletes through social media.

Looking Towards the Future

As the AIS aims for significant advancements by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the demand for high-quality, applicable research is paramount. Increased focus on areas such as hormonal contraception’s impact on health and the wellness needs of diverse athlete populations, including para-athletes, could further enhance the knowledge landscape.

Dr. Harris recalls her own lack of information during her professional swimming career and recognizes the current generation of athletes’ desire for knowledge as promising.