Athlete Health: Specialised Care for Active Women
Dr Michael Silagy has a special interest in the gynaecological and reproductive health of female athletes. From elite and professional competitors to serious recreational trainers who expect their body, and their healthcare, to perform at a high standard.
Training load, menstrual health, pregnancy, and return to sport are deeply connected, yet they're rarely treated that way. Most gynaecological care isn't designed with an athlete's physiology, goals, or timeline in mind. Dr Silagy bridges that gap, providing specialist care that understands what your body does for a living, not just what's "normal."
Areas of Focus
Menstrual Health & Performance
Heavy, painful, or irregular periods aren't something athletes should have to "push through." Dr Silagy assesses the interplay between training load, energy availability, and menstrual function, including screening for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), a condition frequently under-recognised in active women.
Hormonal Contraception & Cycle Management
Guidance on contraceptive options selected with training and competition cycles in mind, including strategies to manage or manipulate cycle timing around key events, and options that minimise impact on bone health, energy, and recovery.
Bone Health & Stress Injury Risk
Assessment of menstrual and hormonal contributors to low bone mineral density and stress fracture risk - an area of particular relevance to endurance and weight-sensitive sports.
Pregnancy Care for Active Women
Evidence-based guidance on training safely through pregnancy, and structured support for return to sport and competition postpartum, balancing ambition with a safe, individualised recovery timeline.
Pelvic Floor & Core Function
Assessment and referral pathways for pelvic floor dysfunction, a common but under-discussed issue among athletes in high-impact sports, including guidance for postpartum athletes returning to running, lifting, or competition.
Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain in Athletes
Pain that gets dismissed as "just part of training" deserves proper investigation. Dr Silagy has particular experience distinguishing musculoskeletal from gynaecological causes of pelvic and lower abdominal pain in athletic women.
Why See a Specialist Who Understands Sport?
You won't be told to simply "stop training" without a plan.
Advice accounts for competition calendars, training blocks, and performance goals, not just general population guidelines.
Coordinated care where appropriate with sports physicians, physiotherapists, and dietitians who understand elite and sub-elite training environments.
Confidential, unhurried consultations. No rushed 10-minute appointments for issues that deserve real discussion.
Who This Is For
Elite and professional athletes managing training, competition, or contractual demands alongside gynaecological or reproductive health concerns
Recreational athletes (runners, cyclists, CrossFit/strength athletes, swimmers, triathletes) experiencing symptoms affecting training
Athletes planning pregnancy, currently pregnant, or returning to sport postpartum
Women referred by coaches, sports physicians, or physiotherapists for gynaecological input
Education & Club Talks
Beyond the consulting room, Dr Silagy is passionate about lifting the general standard of understanding around female athlete health. He regularly visits sporting clubs to speak with players, coaches, and support staff, covering topics like menstrual health and performance, RED-S, bone stress injury risk, and return to sport postpartum.
If you think your club, team, or organisation would benefit from a talk on women's health in sport, get in touch to arrange a session.
Specialised Care for Active Women
If your training, cycle, or performance has been affected by a gynaecological issue, Dr Silagy welcomes referrals from GPs, sports physicians, physiotherapists, and coaches, as well as direct enquiries.