Athletes get fertility boost with new support services

Starting a family can be a rewarding experience but for anyone struggling with fertility, it can be stressful.

Many factors like age and pre-existing conditions can affect fertility in both men and women and for professional athletes, the impact of high-performance sports can pose unique challenges.

Athletes across the country can now access potentially life-changing support services, to improve their reproductive health and increase their chances of having children.

Leading fertility care provider Monash IVF has partnered with the Australian Athletes' Alliance, the peak body for elite professional athletes, to deliver a comprehensive reproductive care program to past and present athletes.

The partnership will provide a range of support including access to fertility health assessments, egg and sperm preservation, donor services and educational programs.

Monash IVF Group medical director Luk Rombauts said female athletes had an increased risk of fertility struggles.

"They may experience significant weight loss, endure high level exercise and a high degree of physical or psychosocial stress, all factors that may impact their reproductive cycle," Professor Rombauts said.

Veteran Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams said female athletes were not educated about the effects of elite sport on reproductive health.

Former netball star Nat Butler (nee Medhurst) said the fertility partnership was significant for sportswomen.

"Throughout my 17-year career, my health as a female was never a topic of conversation within my sport and having needed fertility intervention to fall pregnant with my first child, I truly understand the challenges and uncertainty that female athletes are faced with and the associated emotional impact," Ms Butler said.

The AAA, which represents player and athlete associations including in AFL, cricket, football, basketball and netball, said the initiative was long overdue.

"Many of our athletes have family aspirations like the rest of us but may not have the right information at the right time around fertility health and how their decisions now could impact their fertility in the future," AAA general secretary and former NBL player Jacob Holmes said.