The Jamaican-American athlete went on to say that one of the biggest problems for women was a lack of reliable information about both their bodies and birth control, especially for younger women.

“At that time in your life when you're in college, you don't feel comfortable talking to your mom. So, a lot of information you get is from your peers,” she said.

“It's going to sound silly to some people but, in our community, people don't want to take the pill because you put water weight on. And then people tell you when you're extremely fit you can't get pregnant because our cycles are shorter.

“So, there's a lot of miseducation that happens to young women in college, because we're educating ourselves.”

It’s true that abortion is a topic that is often kept under wraps or considered taboo. Recent research from New York University showed that a third of women who have had an abortion kept it a secret even those who they usually confided in, and current TV phenomenon The Handmaid’s Tale is the first show to properly address the practise, repeatedly, on the small screen.

Olympic gold medalist breaks silence on widespread abortions in sport