Cofertility and &Mother have launched “Level the Playing Field,” a campaign highlighting fertility challenges faced by women athletes. The initiative, announced during National Girls & Women in Sports Month, is based on a survey of over 350 women athletes from 18 sports, including Olympians and professionals.
The survey revealed significant barriers to family planning in sports: 70% of professional women athletes have delayed family-building due to their careers, while 95% feel motherhood negatively impacts their earning potential. Nine in ten believe it affects their career longevity due to inadequate family leave and financial instability.
“At Cofertility, we believe that every woman, athletes included, deserves access to education and options when it comes to her reproductive future,” said Lauren Makler, Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility. “Too often, women are forced to choose between their careers and motherhood due to outdated systems that fail to provide institutional support, protective policies, or comprehensive fertility benefits.”
The research also found that 90% of athletes feel uneducated about their fertility options, with 92% receiving no financial or institutional support for fertility care. Among those who haven’t pursued fertility preservation, 35% cite career limitations and 65% lack education on the process.
“In sports, women have been penalized for even choosing motherhood,” added Alysia Montaño, President, Founder and CEO of &Mother and Olympic Athlete. “This campaign shines a light on the critical support and resources athletes need to help level the playing field, extending their careers and providing them with psychological safety while supporting their abilities to thrive as mothers.”
The campaign has attracted support from prominent athletes and brands, including Maria Sharapova, who noted: “As athletes, our bodies are literally our business, so our fertility and reproductive health directly impacts our livelihoods. I invested in Cofertility to help make egg freezing more affordable and provide women access to health and family planning options, which is particularly pertinent to women in sports.”
