Research summary · Women's sport
What female athlete health screening misses
A review maps the health domains, validation and use of self-report screening tools in female athletes.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review
- Journal
- Sports Medicine
- Population / context
- Female athletes · Multiple participation levels
What the publication reports
Across 360 studies with 134,506 participants, researchers identified 273 tools. Mental health, disordered eating and body image dominated; menstrual, pelvic floor, pregnancy and breast health received less coverage. Half of studies reported using at least one validated tool.
Limits and interpretation
English-language research and elite athletes predominated, with limited coverage of recreational, masters and disability sport. The mapping does not prove diagnostic accuracy for every tool or show that screening prevents injury.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Self-Report Health Screening Tools in Female Athletes: A Systematic Review of Domain Coverage, Validation, and Use Across Participation Levels
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 42698044DOI: 10.1007/s40279-026-02532-2Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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