Unique Considerations for Female Athletes: A Psychiatric Perspective

The health and sport experience of the female athlete is poorly understood and their study is underdeveloped. It is important for mental health providers to have an awareness of the specific factors that can influence female athletes' health and sport experiences for effective assessment and management. Myriad biopsychosocial and cultural factors create challenges for female sport participation. The culture of sport can set the stage for developmental compromises expressed in disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, increased anxiety and depression, and identity formation. Biological changes that occur during puberty, menses, pregnancy, and menopause can impact female participation and performance in sport. It is vital to engage, equip, and empower female athletes to participate in physical activity across the life span and through different reproductive stages. Clinical assessment and management of female athletes should follow clinical practice guidelines through a sports lens to optimize comprehensive care. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(11):e295–e300.]