‘Still taboo’: Olympian turned doctor urges for greater women’s health education

Despite having six kids, Olympian turned doctor Jana Pittman says her pelvic floor is stronger than most teenagers and is calling for more education on women’s health.

Ahead of International Women's Day, chat with former Olympian Jana Pittman says there needs to be more education around women’s health. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Despite having six kids, Olympian turned doctor Jana Pittman says her pelvic floor is stronger than most teenagers.

As International Women’s Day approaches, the 42-year-old, who has experienced several miscarriages and struggled with incontinence, says women’s health can still be a taboo topic.

“We need awareness in schools, social media and as many platforms as possible,” Pittman told The Daily Telegraph.

“These things like sexual dysfunction or pelvic pain don’t just come up in conversation, but it’s something we really need to discuss more.”

Former Olympian Jana Pittman chats about women in sport, pictured at her home in Bella Vista. Picture: Rohan Kelly

With a Medibank report revealing only one in 10 Aussie women regularly exercise their pelvic floor, Pittman, who has suffered from incontinence since her days as an athlete, says that has to change.

“It’s not just for women after having babies, and I think that’s the biggest misconception,” she said.

“These exercises are important and girls should be starting as soon as they can.

“I remember being about 18 and losing control over my bladder after I won the world junior championships, and that’s nuts.

Jana Pittman-Rawlingson during the Australian Athletics Tour Final in Perth on Friday, April 1, 2011. Picture: AAP Image/Tony McDonough

“I’m like the fastest 18-year-old on the planet and I have to run off and change my pants. I didn’t talk to anybody about it.”

It wasn’t until years later, after the birth of her first child, that Pittman began working with a pelvic physiotherapist to learn how to strengthen her pelvic floor correctly.

Former Australian Olympian and mother of six Jana Pittman with her family.

The report also found 76 per cent of women lack confidence and are unsure how to do pelvic floor exercises.

“I don’t think there is a lack of interest from teenagers,” Pittman said.

“They are just embarrassed and we need to break this stigma.”

The former hurdler, who has four Commonwealth Games gold medals to her name, now spends most of her days in hospital training to be an obstetrician and is committed to helping other women.

“I’ve gone through so many health issues myself,” she said.

“It’s almost as if the universe said, ‘Here, take on every woman’s health issue and deal with it’.

“I think it was just a natural lead that when you’ve been through things yourself, you want to help women through the same.”