Written by Jessica Hobbis. Reviewed by Jenny Wordsworth. 

This past weekend, it was a pleasure to watch the Lionesses win the UEFA Women’s EUROs. When they lifted the trophy, it marked a moment of collective pride for this historic sporting win, but their journey also highlights a few key lessons beyond the pitch. Because behind the scenes, players were managing injuries, emotional setbacks, and reproductive health conditions, much like the millions of women balancing fertility treatment in their daily life. 

It’s the same kind of resilience our bodies and minds show us throughout the fertility journey. These conversations need to be talked about more frequently and without shame. Women’s journeys and struggles all look different - it’s the strength it takes to show up at work the morning after a failed IVF round, to go to the gym while managing Endometriosis, and so much more. This is why we have pulled out three of the players and highlighted what their journeys can tell us about reproductive health and resilience more generally. 

Lucy Bronze and the pressure to carry on

After the final, Lucy Bronze revealed she had played the entire tournament with a stress fracture in her leg. She didn’t discuss this, as she felt that she didn’t want it to be a distraction and believed she could just ‘carry on’. 

For many women undergoing IVF or other fertility treatment, that story feels familiar. Women often learn to schedule scans before work, give themselves injections between meetings, and navigate this stressful time without even mentioning to their closest friends and colleagues that they are going through such. 

With 58% of women undergoing IVF in the UK feeling unable to tell their employers about such, there is no denying that this emotional load is prevalent. Research increasingly has highlighted the significant impacts this can have on women including stress, grief, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. 

Fertility treatment and women’s health issues, more generally, are still far too often something women carry alone. We at OVUM want to create a future where women feel safe and supported throughout their unique journey, all the way from menstruation to menopause and beyond. 

Chloe Kelly & not being ‘written off’

Many thought that Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty in the EUROs final, wasn’t going to be there. Just 14 months earlier, she had torn her ACL, a devastating injury that often sidelines athletes for over a year. It was heavily speculated that she would not return to form and make the England team. 

Her story is powerful for so many reasons, especially for women who’ve been made to feel “written off” in their fertility journey. Maybe because of age, a low AMH result, a failed round of IVF, or a diagnosis like PCOS or Endometriosis.

Chloe reminds us that you are not defined by your setbacks and that the journey isn’t over just because someone else says it is. She highlighted the importance of this in her post-match interview after she was asked about her comeback from injury, being quoted to say - “tough times don’t last”. At OVUM we believe society should recognise that every fertility journey looks and feels different, so no one should be made to feel sidelined or isolated during this. 

Leah Williamson and Endometriosis: The power of being open

In 2022, England captain Leah Williamson shared that she has Endometriosis, speaking openly about her fear of being benched mid-match due to the pain she experiences during her period.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and is a leading cause of infertility. Yet it often goes undiagnosed or dismissed. Leah’s honesty helped spotlight a condition that, like many aspects of women’s reproductive health, is too often shrouded in silence.

When high-profile athletes like Leah speak up, it helps dismantle the stigma and inspires more women to seek help sooner and advocate for themselves. It’s also a reminder that reproductive health challenges aren’t a barrier to achieving your own goals, whether these be related to sport, fertility, or something else. Instead, gaining a better understanding of our own bodies can empower us to make decisions that are right for us as individuals.

Reframing Fertility: From Stigma to Strength

The Lionesses remind us that strength doesn’t always look like power or speed. Sometimes, it looks like showing up, understanding your own body, and being compassionate towards yourself when things get tough. 

Fertility concerns can be very isolating, but regardless of where you are in your journey, you are not alone. Whether you’re investigating reproductive health conditions, going through IVF, or trying to make sense of your cycle, your experience deserves to be heard. OVUM is passionate about creating a world where fertility and reproductive health aren’t hidden and instead women feel listened to, supported and able to advocate for their bodies.