RFEF offers Spain players egg freezing in reproductive health deal Spanish women's national team players will have access to a range of reproductive health services, including egg freezing and in vitro fertilization, under a new agreement announced Tuesday by the Spanish Football Federation. The ag…
RFEF offers Spain players egg freezing in reproductive health deal
Spanish women's national team players will have access to a range of reproductive health services, including egg freezing and in vitro fertilization, under a new agreement announced Tuesday by the Spanish Football Federation. The agreement, which runs through 2029, is part of the federation's broader effort to improve work-life balance and support the personal and professional needs of its players.
The RFEF has undertaken a series of reforms in recent years following a prolonged period of strained relations with the women's national team. The agreement will provide players with information about assisted reproduction and access to services including fertility treatments, egg freezing and IVF. The federation said the initiative is designed to give international players greater flexibility when making decisions about their careers and reproductive health.
The RFEF will cover the cost of egg freezing for eligible players, initially providing for the eggs to be preserved for five years. The goal of the agreement is that "during the athletes' most fertile years, they are protected, have access to information, and we can meet their needs," said Reyes Bellver, the RFEF's director of women's football.
The agreement was presented Tuesday in the presence of Spain internationals Patri Guijarro and Olga Carmona. "It's a very important step for us," Carmona said. She scored the winning goal in Spain's 2023 Women's World Cup final victory over England. For Guijarro, the agreement is important because "athletes don't have to choose between their personal life and their sporting life."
The RFEF's initiative follows similar moves by some clubs, including English club Chelsea.
