Let’s play a game of word association. I say “netball team,” you say “babies.” Did you just snort? Okay, maybe that’s not a combo you’d see in a motivational Instagram Reel, but stick with me—there’s a plot twist coming.

This week, Nottingham Forest netball coach Chelsea Pitman let the world in on her fertility rollercoaster, and wow—did she ever serve it straight. In the BBC’s headline-grabbing piece "We were judged for wanting babies but I want mums on my team", Pitman talks about the silent struggle too many athletes (and, hello, regular humans) face: wanting a family and being taken seriously in their passions or professions.

So, let’s call a time-out. Why do we act like pregnancy is some sort of penalty kick in the game of ambition? More importantly, what would happen if breaking the taboo around fertility didn’t just help the world’s top scorers, but also you, me, and anyone who’s ever felt awkward for wanting a baby on their own terms?

We’re Still Whispering About This?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: even in 2025, women—especially those in physically demanding fields—are tiptoeing around the subject of fertility like it’s a dirty secret. Pitman’s story is both shocking and familiar: worry over team selection, public judgment, and the ever-present sense that you’ve got to “play through” fertility struggles with a tight, polite smile.

But it’s not just professional athletes feeling the pressure. The taboo trickles down to every office break room (“Oh, you’re trying? Are you sure you’re ready for that?”), group chat (“Don’t tell anyone, but…”), and awkward family dinner (“So, when is it your turn?”).

The Real Opponent: Isolation

Why is this hush-hush mentality so defeating? Because it breeds isolation—period. Whether you’re a netball coach or a spreadsheet warrior, the sense that you’re “the only one” can be soul-crushing.

Here’s the game plan we should be running: - Open conversations in every arena—no more whispering in locker rooms or DMs. - Championing choice for how, when, and where families are made. - Celebrating every fertility journey, not just textbook stories.

Leveling Up: Modern Fertility Fights Back

Here’s the great news: 2025 is also the year where fertility isn’t just a doctor’s office story. Tech, community, and some truly clever innovations are giving the taboo a run for its money.

For instance, at-home insemination kits are making the journey way less clinical—and a lot more private. One standout is the team at MakeAMom, whose kits are designed to fit an astonishing range of needs, from low motility sperm (shout-out to the “Impragnator”—yes, that’s actually the name) to options that ease vaginal sensitivities.

These kits aren’t just cost-effective and reusable—they’re also plain-packaged and, statistically, quite successful (seriously, a 67% average success rate is basically MVP material in this league). And they’re a gentle nudge that “trying to conceive” can and should look different for different people—no matter whether your day job involves a whistle or a Wi-Fi password.

The Power of (Team) Choice

Let’s take Pitman’s rallying cry and run with it: “I want mums on my team.” But let’s stretch it further. What if we want parents—of every gender, orientation, or fertility path—on every team, everywhere?

That means: - Swapping judgment for support when someone shares their fertility journey. - Passing the ball (so to speak) to anyone who’s struggling, whether through medical interventions, at-home kits, or just a bit of encouragement. - Redefining what “success” looks like—on the field and in family-making—by including every story, not just the “easy wins.”

Don’t Sit This One Out

Fertility is not a taboo, a career-ending move, or a secret best left off the scoreboard. It’s a bold, beautiful, totally normal part of life—whether you’re sprinting at nationals or speed-walking through your local park.

So, the next time you hear someone whisper about “trying,” or you’re the one quietly Googling solutions at 3am, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to play by someone else’s rules.

There’s a growing bench of supporters, tools, and resources—like MakeAMom’s empowering options—that are cheering for YOU, no matter what your path looks like.

Are you ready to make fertility part of the conversation, not the closet? Sound off in the comments (or forward this to your group chat and see who fist-bumps you first). Game on!