Agreement details and player initiative

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is finalizing an agreement with a fertility clinic to provide egg vitrification procedures for players on the women's national team. The initiative originated directly from the players, with team captains presenting proposals on how to balance biological timelines with international football careers. The final agreement is scheduled to be formally presented by the federation in late September 2026. Spain's players union, the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), also announced on 31 August 2026 a collaboration with a private hospital to offer assisted reproduction services to its members.

Alexia Putellas, captain of the Spanish national team, explained the rationale behind approaching the federation about fertility preservation options.

“It is a huge step forward because the Federation understands that you are serving your country against your biological time, that you cannot stop and you cannot be a mother because you need your body to work.”

Costs and clinical considerations

Vitrification allows athletes to preserve eggs before age 36, when gamete quality is highest, for use in assisted reproduction treatments following or during their careers. Medical specialists point out that the procedure carries specific costs and variable success rates. The extraction and freezing process costs between 2,000 and 4,000 euros, accompanied by medication costs ranging from 800 to 1,000 euros and annual storage fees of 400 euros. Montserrat Boada, head of biology for the reproductive medicine service at the Dexeus Mujer clinic, detailed the clinical impact of age on future pregnancies.

“If you freeze eggs before age 36, you multiply by 10 the chances that later, when you want to try, you will actually get pregnant.”

According to Boada, the initial success rate sits around 60%, with cumulative success exceeding 70% when attempts involve multiple embryos.

Precedents across professional sports

The Spanish federation's initiative follows several precedents across corporate sectors and professional sports organizations. In 2021, Racing Louisville in the United States became the first football club to establish a fertility clinic partnership, pledging to cover storage costs for players after their contracts ended. In 2023, Spanish union FUTPRO partnered with the Natuvitro clinic to offer fertility services to female footballers. Earlier in 2026, Chelsea FC announced a clinic partnership and a dedicated fund for evaluations, treatments, and counseling, while UEFA recommended adding fertility and reproductive treatments to workplace policies. In June 2025, the Women's Tennis Association introduced a rule protecting rankings during leave for fertility procedures.

Physical demands and athletic risks

Athletic careers for female footballers typically span between ages 17 and 36, directly overlapping with peak biological fertility windows. In previous years, athletes scheduled procedures privately during holiday periods or while recovering from surgical operations. However, medical professionals note that the physical side effects of ovarian stimulation require careful monitoring in elite sports. Eva Ferrer, a sports medicine specialist, former FC Barcelona women's team doctor, and member of UEFA's female health expert panel, emphasized the need for further clinical research into athletic impacts.

“There are not enough studies on how the treatment could affect joints, for example, soft tissue.”

Ferrer noted that ovarian stimulation hormones can impact soft tissue and joint mechanics, requiring tailored training adjustments to prevent musculoskeletal injuries. In addition, athletes undergoing hormonal stimulation must formally register their medications on therapeutic use exemption documentation to comply with anti-doping regulations.