Puberty brings real physical changes growth spurts, breast development, body fat redistribution, and the start of your menstrual cycle. For athletes, these changes can affect strength, flexibility, and performance in ways that feel confusing or frustrating, but they're a normal part of development, not a setback.
- Your body changing shape or performance shifting temporarily during puberty is normal, not a sign you're doing something wrong
- Coaches and training plans should adjust to your development, not the other way around
- If you feel pressure to delay puberty or control your body in unhealthy ways to "perform better," that's a conversation worth having with a doctor, not something to manage alone
Your menstrual cycle is a useful signal of overall health, not just something to work around in training.
- Tracking your cycle can help you understand energy levels, mood, and performance patterns across the month
- Missed or irregular periods in athletes are common but should never be ignored they can be an early sign of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), where the body isn't getting enough fuel for training demands
- If your period stops, becomes very irregular, or you're in pain that disrupts daily life, see a doctor this is a health matter, not something to just push through
Consent means a clear, freely given "yes" not the absence of a "no." It can be withdrawn at any time, for any reason, even in an existing relationship.
- Real consent can't happen where there's fear, pressure, manipulation, or a big power gap including between an athlete and a coach, physio, or senior teammate
- A healthy relationship doesn't require secrecy, isolate you from friends and family, or punish you for saying no
- If something feels off in a relationship, trusting that feeling is reasonable, even if you can't yet explain exactly why
There isn't one "right" contraception choice the best option depends on your health, your life, and what you're trying to manage (pregnancy prevention, cycle regulation, or both).
- Broad categories include barrier methods (like condoms), hormonal methods (like the pill, patch, or implant), and long-acting options (like an IUD) — each with different pros, cons, and health considerations
- Condoms are the only method that also reduces the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- A doctor or clinic can help you choose based on your own health history this isn't something to figure out from social media alone
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, and many have no obvious symptoms which is why regular testing matters if you're sexually active, not just when something feels wrong.
- Condoms significantly lower the risk of most STIs, though no method removes risk completely
- Getting tested regularly is a normal, responsible part of sexual health not a sign that something is wrong with you
- Many clinics offer confidential, low-cost, or free STI testing a local sexual health clinic or your doctor can point you to one
Coaches, physios, and senior athletes hold real power over your training time, selection, and career which is exactly why romantic or sexual relationships with them are never straightforward, even if they're framed as consensual.
- It's reasonable to expect professional boundaries from anyone with authority over your sport career
- Comments about your body, repeated "special treatment," secrecy, or pressure to keep something from other coaches or your family are warning signs, not compliments
- You are allowed to say no to an authority figure in your sport without it being framed as ungrateful or difficult
If anything on this page brought something up for you a health question, a relationship that doesn't feel right, or something that happened to you; you don't have to sort it out alone.
- Our Community Support page has a confidential way to reach out, plus real local helplines by country
- A doctor, school nurse, or local sexual health clinic can answer personal questions privately
- If you are in immediate danger, please use the emergency numbers listed on the Community page for your country first