Episode 42: Having a Uterus Shouldn't Be a Penalty

The Whole Pineapple

If, unlike Anne, you’re not already a season ticket holder for the OL Reign, and you do live in the Seattle area, maybe consider grabbing your seats now. Like most women’s sports, tickets are less expensive than the men’s and certainly less than they’re worth!

In this episode, we hear from OL Reign players Lu Barnes and Nikki Stanton on the joys and challenges of being a professional athlete.

This episode came about because Seattle Reproductive Medicine is the OL Reign’s official fertility partner, providing education, fertility advice and care to preserve fertility options. Chances are, if you’re listening to this podcast, you know why it’s important for players to have a fertility partner, but if you don’t, for women, peak fertility years often coincide with peak athletic years. Options such as egg freezing can extend a female athlete’s career by enabling her to postpone family building.

So what are the challenges of being an athlete in possession of a uterus? (And heads up – these issues often affect the careers of any professional, not just athletes!)

• Depending on her cycle, there are times when women’s bodies are more injury prone.
• Uniforms often don’t take into account the realities of women’s bodies — white shorts, y’all? Really??
• Unlike for men, a woman’s sports career usually has to at least pause for becoming a parent.
• Double standards exist. And they generally suck for women.
• Society often “expects” women to simply quit their sports careers in favor of family.
• Men have never EVER had to deal with “the period lady.”

Just like the fathers, mothers would like their kids to be able to see them play and to provide that same inspiration. And this isn’t a fantasy that biology makes impossible; more research, more investment, more conversation on the subject has already resulted in improvement — there’s no reason to assume the status quo is “good enough.”

Nikki and Lu are brilliant on and off the field, so once you’ve listened to this awesome conversation, check out their bios at the OL Reign: Nikki Stanton bio and Lu Barnes bio, and then buy those tickets! Get Tickets HERE!

And as always, help us end the stigma around infertility and bodies with uteruses and vaginas by sharing this and other episodes. You’ll find all the episodes at thewholepineapple.com.