Stress urinary incontinence affects many female athletes. Its effect in elite women's football has received little attention. This study aims to determine the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in elite women's football, investigate its triggers, analyze compensatory strategies, and identify practical solutions to reduce its impact on health and performance.
Observational, cross-sectional survey.
This study used anonymized, retrospective data from 368 football players who completed an online questionnaire assessing the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence through both direct and indirect questions, triggering factors and the level of dialog on this topic. Sub-analyses explored differences across practice levels (National: Divisions 1 and 2, Division 3 and Under19 and Regional: Other).
Direct questions revealed that 19% of players reported suffering from stress urinary incontinence, while indirect indicators suggested a prevalence of 55%, with no significant difference between groups. Jumping/ landing was the main trigger (41%), followed by running (27%) and abdominal exercises (18%). 20% of players were asked about their stress urinary incontinence by physicians and 8% by coaches or physiotherapists, with no differences across practice levels. However, dialog with gynecologists (p < 0.001) and physiotherapists (p = 0.03) was significantly higher among top-level Division 1 and 2 players compared to Division 3 and Under19 and Other.
Stress urinary incontinence is common in women's football. This study emphasizes understanding the triggering factors for stress urinary incontinence prevention, treatment, and open discussion to avoid negative effects on athletes' health and performance. Coaches and healthcare professionals also play a key role in prevention.
Journal of science and medicine in sport. 2026 May 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Emmanuel Orhant, Christopher Carling, Carole Maitre, Anne-Sophie Muller, Alice Van Niekerk, François-Xavier Ferey, Tom Chassard, Marine Dupuit, Adrien Revault
Medical Department, French Football Federation, France., French Football Federation Research Center, Clairefontaine National Football Centre, France; Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA 7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), France., INSEP, National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, France., INSEP, National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, France; IRMES - URP 7329, Institute for Research in Medicine and Epidemiology of Sports, Université Paris Cité, France., INSEP, National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance, France. Electronic address: .