COVID-19-Considerations for the Female Athlete

Georgie Bruinvels; Nathan A Lewis; Richard C Blagrove; Dawn Scott; Richard J Simpson; Aaron L Baggish; John P Rogers; Kathryn E Ackerman; Charles R Pedlar

doi:10.3389/fspor.2021.606799

COVID-19-Considerations for the Female Athlete

Front Sports Act Living. 2021 Feb 16:3:606799. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.606799. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Georgie Bruinvels^{1

2}, Nathan A Lewis^{1

2}, Richard C Blagrove³, Dawn Scott⁴, Richard J Simpson^{5

6

7}, Aaron L Baggish⁸, John P Rogers^{9

10}, Kathryn E Ackerman¹¹, Charles R Pedlar^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University, Twickenham, United Kingdom.
² Orreco Ltd., Unit 103, Business Innovation Centre, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland.
³ School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
⁴ School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
⁷ Department of Immunobiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.
⁸ Cardiovascular Performance Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
⁹ Department of Sports Medicine, Manchester Institute of High Performance, Manchester, United Kingdom.
¹⁰ Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
¹¹ Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Abstract

The SARS CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) caused the whole sporting calendar to be paused. As we embark on the challenge of navigating through the return to play (RTP) process, there is a necessity to consider the needs of all athletes. This commentary specifically considers recommendations and requirements for the female athlete with a physiological emphasis during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, however, it will be relevant for any similar future scenarios that may present. It is important to acknowledge that there remain many unknowns surrounding COVID-19 and the female athlete both in the short- and long-term.

Keywords: athlete; coronavirus; menstrual cycle; return-to-play (return-to-sport); women.

Publication types

Review