Almost half of women in sport have been subjected to sexist jibes, with taunts such as 'throw like a girl', being 'unwomanly' in appearance, or simply 'not strong enough'. A recent survey of 3,000 female athletes uncovered that women also face downgrading remarks about their capability compared to men and endure stereotypes painting them as weak or 'soft'. The majority of these derogatory remarks came from male strangers on the street, but they were also followed by male athletes, as well as male coaches. Two thirds of those who have experienced sexist abuse have contemplated quitting sport as a result. Dr Pallavi Bradshaw, deputy chief medical officer at AXA Health Insurance , which commissioned the research, said: "Comments about physical ability or derogatory statements about gender have no place in sport or exercise." "It can be a lose-lose situation for women sometimes. Despite the progress which has been made to improve access to women's sport, the research shows there's still a long way to go to making sport an equal playing field for all." The study also identified additional obstacles for women, with 39 percent stating that their involvement in sport was negatively affected by menstrual health. Olympian Sam Quek , who clinched gold for Team GB at the Rio Olympics in women's hockey, said: "As a woman in sport, I've experienced and also heard a number of insults; 'Oh, she's hormonal, oh, she's on her period, she throws like a girl, she's not strong enough – the list is endless." "One area in women's sport which I have loved to see evolve is the menstrual cycle and women's periods, because whether you like it or not, it does affect sporting performance. We are not using it as an excuse, we just needed a greater understanding," she said. The research revealed that 78 percent feel female athletes don't receive the recognition they deserve, even though 94 percent of parents believe it's crucial to set a good example to children regarding exercise. To help rectify this imbalance, 88 percent said that coaches, officials, spectators and members of the sporting community need to do more to halt sexist abuse. Speaking out when they see abuse, promoting equal opportunities and giving praise to women when they deserve it are the top suggestions to help improve culture for women in sport. Dr Bradshaw added: "It's important we ensure that women are treated fairly, so we need to normalise flexing training plans to suit women's needs, such as using the stages of the menstrual cycle to benefit training. "We know that certain stages of the cycle women can feel more fatigued, but there are stages where they might feel stronger, too – so they can use this to their advantage. Women menstruating are also more likely to suffer injuries, so this should be factored into training plans." Sam Quek added: "Sport for me is magical. It's for everyone. To any female involved in sport who has been told they're too much – you're not, you're you. And to any female who has been told we're not enough, we are enough."