An audit of hormonal contraceptive use in Women’s Super League soccer players; implications on symptomology

ABSTRACT Purpose To audit hormonal contraceptive use and associated symptomology in elite women’s soccer in England. Methods Seventy-five elite women’s soccer players from the Women’s Super League (WSL) completed a questionnaire to assess: hormonal contraceptive (HC) use or non-use, reasons for initiation and discontinuation and the symptoms experienced by HC and non-HC users. Results Twenty-eight per cent reported current HC use, with 43% having used HCs previously. Combined HCs accounted for 62% of total usage, with progestin-only HCs making up the remainder. Eighty-six per cent pre-empted negative symptoms before commencing HCs, with 38% experiencing adverse symptoms. Negative symptoms were most common in progestin-only HC users (63%). Eighty-six per cent reported benefits associated with HC usage include pain management and the ability to predict or control their cycles. Six non-HC users reported amenorrhea, with one medically diagnosed. Negative MC-related symptoms were reported by 74%, with 4% unable to train due to these symptoms. Unfavorable symptoms typically occurred during the first days of menstruation (59%). Conclusion Most WSL players do not currently use HCs (72%). Most HC users reported benefits of HC usage, whilst most non-HC users reported negative symptoms especially around menstruation. Practitioners should track players' MCs to help minimise discomfort and maximise performance.