When GWS AFLW star Chloe Dalton and her partner Riley Bodger wanted to start a family, they walked into Monash IVF clinic in Sydney with little knowledge of the journey they were about to embark on.

Now, after going through the process and preparing to become first-time mothers with the arrival of their son later this month, Dalton wants to see reproductive health better prioritised in the women's sports space.

"Conversations around menstrual health, egg freezing, IVF and pregnancy have generally been topics that were held behind closed doors at club and code level," Dalton said.

"Historically, I think it's been something that hasn't necessarily been taboo, but I think we've started to see some amazing athletes, like your Gretel Buetas in netball, who've had babies and returned to sport, who've kind of led the way in that space.

"But I think the broader conversation, to me, is something that I'm really passionate about, female athletes having more information available so that they can make decisions that suit them and what their family needs are."

Dalton, Olympic gold medallist and founder of the Female Athlete Project (TFAP), has suffered with menstrual health issues in the past, including a condition of heavy and painful periods, known as menorrhagia.

While Bodger is carrying, the embryo was created using Dalton's eggs in a process called reciprocal IVF. The reproductive treatment allows both partners in a same sex relationship to be involved.

After the egg retrieval, frozen embryos were created using Dalton's eggs, and sperm from an overseas donor selected through Monash IVF. Bodger fell pregnant on her second embryo transfer.

"We were really excited that we had the opportunity to do that [but] that was something that I had to consider, just timing wise, around training, what that looked like for me, just because of the hormone injections and things that you need to go through," Dalton said.

"And for me, I've had a pretty rough experience with my periods in the past, where I've had really painful periods, and I've had to work out different management strategies to address how that impacts my training and playing.

"And so the egg retrieval process was probably another step in that path, just to see, like, 'OK, how are we going to make this work around training too?'"

Now, a year later, Dalton, who has wanted to be a mum for most of her life, is thrilled her and Bodger found an option that worked for them in starting a family.

The importance of getting information early

AFLW three-time premiership player Erin Phillips, who has four children through IVF with her wife Tracy, said a lot of her friends who are or were elite athletes regretted not finding out about their fertility options in their younger years.

"[They] didn't do the research, didn't know, and then got to a point in their life towards the end of their career, and then they were really struggling in fertility for whatever reason," said Phillips.

"So I would just say to at least look into it, research, get all the information. Whether you think it's a crazy idea at the age you are, that's completely fine, but that was probably the one thing my friends have the biggest regrets [about], is not knowing back then."

The two-time WNBA champion added there is a lot to learn about fertility and elite sport and being equipped with the right information can ease some of that journey.

"Sometimes even just some of the struggles with athletes too, is just the commitment around not being able to exercise during fertility to a certain level of getting your heart rate up to a certain point," Phillips said.

"It was just a lot of learning on the fly [for her and Tracy] and learning when you're in it, which was really hard."

Monash IVF NSW medical director Michael Costello said elite athletes face distinct fertility challenges, both physiological and lifestyle-related, stressing the need for access to information.

He said for female athletes, one common issue is disordered ovulation, where intense physical training can lead to menstrual irregularities, such as missed periods. This occurs because extreme physical stress impacts the body's reproductive hormone balance.

"There are also psychological barriers, including concerns over job security and the ability to maintain peak physical performance during and after pregnancy," Dr Costello said.

"These concerns can be compounded by the demanding schedules of elite athletes, who may be competing or travelling during their optimal ovulation windows, making it difficult to time conception – or for same-sex couples, difficult to engage in fertility treatment pathways."

He added that additionally, the demands of professional sports often delay pregnancy, as athletes prioritise their careers.

'It's never been spoken about'

The average age for peak performance and fertility typically coincide for female athletes, who rely on their bodies for their careers.

A woman's fertility is strongest between her late teens to late-20s, with the average age of first-time mothers in Australia 29.8, whereas the peak athletic performance for women varies widely across sports but typically ranges from 20 to 30 years old.

Research of elite sportswomen in 2022 found elite female athletes, including Olympians, were often scared to disclose that they were pregnant to their clubs or sports over fear they would lose their position on the team or be viewed as less committed to their sport.

When Australian Diamond and three-time world champion Nat Medhurst started to try and fall pregnant towards the end of her 17-year career, she found the support for female athletes wanting to become mothers lacking.

This was particularly the case in the conversations and information around women's health within an elite sporting environment.

"As a female, the rigours of what you're putting your body through as an athlete can have an adverse effect on your fertility and yet it's never been spoken about," Medhurst said at the Roar Room for Gender Equity conference earlier this year.

"At the time, I was aware of players who wanted to start a family and yet were being asked that by their coaches when they're going for another contract extension, so then there's this fear that they can't talk about it."

Codes across Australia are increasingly implementing pregnancy and maternity policies into collective bargaining agreements. The current AFL and AFLW CBA includes a 12 month pregnancy policy, which provides support to expecting mothers.

Moreover, the Australian Athletes' Alliance (AAA) — which represents player and athlete associations including in AFL, cricket, football, basketball, netball, rugby league and hockey — partnered with fertility care provider Monash IVF in 2023.

Dalton said in the past two to three years, the Giants have made big progress around menstrual health screening, education and referrals to a women's health and sport specific physiotherapist.

Costello added that there is a lack of robust research focused on the fertility of female athletes, leaving gaps in evidence-based practices that could better support them.

"While fertility can seem complex and daunting, the key is education," Costello said.

By empowering athletes with knowledge about their fertility health, they can proactively navigate their options, allowing them to balance both their athletic careers and family planning successfully, he said.

Matildas midfielder and West Ham captain Katrina Gorry is a great example of how athletes can thrive in their playing careers, while also prioritising being a parent, when provided with adequate support, Dalton said.

The 32-year-old then announced the arrival of her and partner Clara Markstedt's second child Koby in June this year.

"It's been quite amazing, the way that she's gone about it, and probably also the way that the Matildas and football Australia have supported her in that environment," Dalton said. "

"Athletes like Gorry have proven professional sport and motherhood can go hand-in-hand.

"I hope our experience can also inspire other female athletes to prioritise their fertility health and have those conversations with their coaches and support staff."