El grado de conocimiento sobre salud en mujeres deportistas: una revisión sistemática

Female athletes face specific health challenges related to their biological and physiological characteristics, including menstrual cycle disturbances, relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), pelvic floor dysfunctions, eating disorders, anemia, and bone health problems. However, the level of knowledge they have about these health issues is not yet clearly established. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the existing scientific evidence on health-related knowledge among female athletes. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2015 and 2025 in Spanish or English, following PRISMA guidelines. Thirteen studies conducted across eight different countries were included, with a combined sample of more than 2,700 athletes. The included studies consistently reported insufficient levels of knowledge across multiple health domains, particularly regarding menstrual health, RED-S, pelvic floor dysfunctions, and eating disorders. Female athletes with prior health-related education showed higher levels of knowledge, whereas symptom normalization and low rates of specialized help-seeking were frequently reported. Overall, the findings suggest limited levels of health literacy among female athletes and highlight the need to implement comprehensive, continuous, and sport-specific educational strategies tailored to the sporting context.