Hoping For Motherhood, Pro Tennis Player, 30, Says Chronic Arthritis Affects Her Ability To Get Pregnant

When asked during a recent press conference at the Miami Open whether her decision to retire was a “hard” or “soft” decision, Collins replied, “You know, I find it so interesting, because I kind of felt like when I was announcing my retirement, everyone has been so, like, congratulating me and so excited for me, but then on the other hand, I feel like I have had to justify my decision a lot. I feel like if I was a guy, I probably wouldn’t have to justify it that much.”

She added, “I think it’s really interesting how in a lot of different situations I have had to kind of justify the reasons behind retirement.

“I’m living with a chronic inflammatory disease that affects your ability to get pregnant, and so that’s a deeply personal situation. I’ve kind of explained that from time to time. Yeah, I think it’s a good question, but I think at the end of the day, my choice, like, this is my personal choice.”

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Collins insisted, “This is so much more to do than just tennis and my career. I’m enjoying my career. I’m having a lot of fun. I love coming out here and competing. But at the end of the day this is a really big life decision, and yeah, I think that that should be pretty understandable.”

She also confirmed that she will be retiring from the sport and can’t confirm what her plans are outside of the tennis world.

Danielle Collins on people questioning her retirement decision. 🫶#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/PKfrEhp8GD

— TENNIS (@Tennis) March 28, 2024

However, she did say that starting a family was her “main priority,” but she needs the “time and the space to be able to focus on, you know, what sparks my interest,” in regard to other plans she may have for the future.

“I feel like with the lifestyle we live and this being our full-time job and so much of our day-to-day revolving around preparing and getting ready for the next tournament and going out and competing, you know, we don’t have a lot of time to kind of think about that next chapter unless you are thinking about doing something in tennis,” she concluded.

“So I kind of need a little bit of time to figure out what that’s going to be, but I think what I’m looking forward to the most is kind of stepping away from public eye a little bit and being able to have a, you know, quiet lifestyle and a simple one.”

Deciding When and Who to Tell About My Diagnosis Became a Burden

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Danielle Collins first tested positive for an autoimmune disease back in high school, however, the specific type of autoimmune disease she was living with was never determined. Her symptoms also subsided following her passing of a kidney stone, which led doctors to think her diagnosis was a false positive, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

By the time she was in college, she had often dealt with respiratory infections, along with various aches and pains, which returned frequently when she became a pro tennis player.

She told AHA back in 2021, “It was kind of like, ‘Oh, well, you have a wrist injury, a knee injury, you have this going on with your shoulder. I obviously learned how to deal with these injuries, just like any athlete.”

However, in July 2019, just eight months after Collins had a career-high ranking of 23rd place in the world, her pain worsened and she decided to see a team of specialists in her home state of Florida.

She ultimately learned she had Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, like her grandmother.

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A post shared by Danielle Collins (@danimalcollins)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body.”

The institute explains, “RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once. RA commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. In a joint with RA, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed, causing damage to joint tissue. This tissue damage can cause long-lasting or chronic pain, unsteadiness (lack of balance), and deformity (misshapenness). RA can also affect other parts of the body and cause problems in organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. ”

Collins explained to AMA,” The day after I got diagnosed, I went from the rheumatologist to the practice courts. I was upset about it, but the show must go on.

“My boyfriend said, ‘I’m surprised you’re handling it this way.’ But I’ve always tried to keep a positive attitude with these things. I just try to focus on the things that I can control and focus on how I can make it better. That’s all you can do.”

She admitted after making changes to her diet, medicine, and activity, her flare up durations of RA have shortened, and the length in between each has lengthened.

According to the Annals of the Rheumatic Disease, a study published in BMJ, “Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most prominent inflammatory diseases affecting women of child-bearing age.

“Nearly one-third of female RA patients diagnosed before the completion of child-bearing experience fertility problems.”

Coping Mechanisms for Pain Management

Collins is not alone when it comes to living with chronic pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20% of Americans are living day-to-day with chronic pain.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting basic pain research to develop strategies and potential medications to better manage pain. The research focuses on key areas including facial pain and how – in some cases – protein increases sensitivity to painful and nonpainful stimuli.

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Research involving mice indicates that rodents with high levels of Cdk5 (a type of protein called cyclin-dependent kinase 5) showed larger calcium surges, indicating that their pain responses were intensified.

“This heightened pain sensitivity is similar to a condition called allodynia. Allodynia causes pain in response to something that isn’t typically painful. The research team was able to reduce pain signaling in those oversensitive mice by blocking their Cdk5,” NIH Distinguished Investigator Dr. Kenneth M. Yamada explained.

Other areas of research include learning how sound reduces pain and ongoing clinical trials studying pain perception and lower back pain.

Of course, pain management comes with risks especially when powerful painkillers such as opioids are involved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends seeking treatment opinions that don’t involve opioids to treat pain when viable. Medicines like over-the-counter painkillers including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen have fewer side effects. Other alternatives to opioids include physical therapy and exercise.

Helpful Tips to Get Better Answers Regarding Your Health

Advocating for your health is key for you to receive the best possible care. By being present, asking lots of questions, and getting several different medical opinions you will be better positioned to push for a correct diagnosis and get the best possible treatment to address your symptoms. Over the years, SurvivorNet has shared many stories from cancer survivors and medical experts alike for practical guidance needed to best advocate for yourself.

WATCH: How to advocate for yourself.

Below is a list of a few things you can do to advocate for your health.

• “The squeaky wheel gets the oil:” Breast cancer survivor Jenny Saldana urges people to continue speaking up if they feel like their concerns aren’t being taken seriously.
• “Get knowledge:” Colon cancer survivor Evelyn Reyes-Beato says people should come to appointments prepared with questions and make physicians “earn that copay.”
• “The truth is you have to be in tune with your body, and you realize that you are not the statistic:” Dr. Zuri Murrell, director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, encourages patients to stand up for themselves because they might not “fit into” the mold of healthcare guidelines. He also says patients should always leave appointments with a plan.

“[Medical] guidelines, especially in this country, are meant to take care and do the right thing for the largest number of people, but it’s also with the littlest use of resources,” Dr. Murrell said. He adds since everyone does not neatly fit into a box, patients must extract more concrete answers related to their condition from doctors.

“It’s important for you to actually educate yourself and be your own health care advocate. You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan,” Dr. Murrell continued offering additional guidance to patients to advocate for themselves.

“If your doctor doesn’t listen, get a second opinion:” Breast cancer survivor Stephanie Virgin wants people to push for answers when they don’t feel right even if that means seeking multiple opinions.

Dr. Steven Rosenberg is the National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery, and he previously told SurvivorNet about the advantages of getting input from multiple doctors.

WATCH: The value of a second opinion.

“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care. Because finding a doctor who is up to the latest information is important,” Dr. Rosenberg said.

“We really do want our doctors to like us, but you have to take charge:” Breast cancer warrior April Knowles urges people to ask questions when something is wrong. No one should feel dismissed by their doctors.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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