Your club recognises the importance of Female Athlete Health and have been offered training to learn more about how they can support all aspects of women’s health, including breast health.
They will be looking at how they can create safe and supportive environments with you, to help normalise conversations about Women’s Health.
Clubs will maintain good working relations with parents / carers of Players under the age of 18. Clubs will ensure relevant and appropriate information is shared about programmes and initiatives related to Female Athlete Health so parents / carers can support as required..
Breast Injury
Reporting and treating a breast injury at your Club.
Breast injury is more common in football than you think. About 40% of athletes experience a blow to the breast which results in an injury to the breast tissue. It’s important to report breast injury to the medical team within your club. It helps them get a better picture of the most prevalent injuries happening amongst the team, and they can advise you on the best approach to treatment.
In addition to acute breast injury, many women develop lumps and bumps in the breast tissue due to the contact nature of football. These are often nothing to worry about, but sometimes they may need assessment by a specialist to rule out any other illness. Like any other part of the body, troublesome breast symptoms that aren’t resolved with basic advice may need more specialised assessment.
Consent
Before any assessment or treatment, the health practitioner should gain informed consent. This means that they should:
- fully explain what they are about to do and why
- give you the opportunity to ask any questions
- obtain your consent before proceeding
You can refuse any assessment or treatment that you are not comfortable with.
You can change your mind and withdraw your consent at any point during the assessment or treatment.
A female chaperone should be offered to you for any assessment or treatment, or an appointment rearranged for when a chaperone can be available, should you wish to have one.
Breast injury assessment and treatment
Doctors will talk to you about any symptoms you have and may offer to assess your breast tissue which may require removing your bra for observation and touch assessment. They may refer you to a breast specialist.
If you require treatment from Holistic Therapists practitioners such as Massage Therapists or Acupuncturists for breast pain or injury, or issues around the chest and upper back, they will typically ask you questions around any breast issues you may have as part of pre-treatment screening. They will not offer any assessment and may offer to treat the chest area around your breast tissue if required.
For some medical and recovery treatments, such as a back massage, you may be asked to remove your bra as this can be more comfortable for you. However, you can say no to this. If you chose to remove your bra for treatment, you should expect to be appropriately covered with towels during the treatment.
