Balancing motherhood and work is a challenge in any profession. But for footballers, whose peak sporting years coincide with their peak fertility, the choice can feel stark.

“For a woman whose sports career might last, say, 10 years at a high level, she starts thinking that getting pregnant really isn’t an option,” former Real Sociedad player, Larraitz Lucas, told DW. “When you are competing at a high level, all you are focusing on is the present.”

Until the last few years, only about 2% of footballers got pregnant during their careers, with many leaving the sport to pursue motherhood. But with increasing professionalization, organizations are starting to wrestle with the question of how to deal with players who want to have children.

Binding maternity regulations were introduced to the sport only in 2021 and strengthened in 2024. But for those who wish to postpone their pregnancy while playing, the issue of freezing eggs as a fertility treatment has come to the fore.

US club, Racing Louisville, were the first club side to offer to pay for such treatments in 2021, while English club Chelsea have announced this month that egg freezing will be funded for any player that wants it.

But, perhaps more significantly, the Spanish football federation, RFEF, are expected to become the first national federation to announce a similar policy soon after reported lobbying from star player Alexia Putellas and others.

Playing during egg extraction a tough ask

Such options weren’t available to Spaniard Lucas in her playing career, which ended more than a decade ago. While she went through egg retrieval, in her case it was so her partner could have an embryo implanted to carry the baby. 

“You keep competing as best you can but no matter how much you try to align it with a weekend break from matches it’s tough. Really, before, during, and after the egg extraction, well… it wasn’t ideal,” said Lucas.

Though it depends somewhat on circumstances, egg freezing can take around three weeks. Women inject themselves every day before their eggs are harvested and frozen under sedation. To use the eggs at a later date, they must be thawed and injected with sperm to create embryos.

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IVF explained: Process, costs & risks

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But, as athlete gynaecologist, Lamia Zafrani, told DW, egg freezing is far from straightforward. “Egg freezing is not an insurance policy that is guaranteed to pay out. It’s always better if you freeze your eggs whilst you’re young because you’ve got younger eggs to then use for future IVF.

“But actually there’s no guarantee that when you defrost or thaw those eggs, turn them into embryos, that they’ll actually be successful and result in a successful live birth. And I think it’s these conversations that the athletes need to be made aware of because, at the end of the day, it’s all about informed consent.”

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Egg freezing ‘shouldn’t be tool to pressure players’

Zafrani added that the number of athletes in her London clinic asking about the procedure has risen sharply in recent times. “It is definitely something that athletes are very much asking for,” she said.

“But there’s always nuance to all of these conversations. While it’s great because the federations are listening to the players, ethically, it always does bring up the question of whether by offering egg freezing and fertility preservation, the underlying message is that you’re telling your players ‘don’t get pregnant whilst you’re working for us.’ And that can be problematic.”

It’s a concern that is shared by Alexandra Gómez Bruinewoud. The legal director of global players’ union, FIFPRO, was a co-author of the maternity policies adopted by football’s global governing body, FIFA. She said FIFPRO have been working on policies for assisted reproduction, including the freezing of eggs, but that ensuring players were educated about their choices was paramount.

“We don’t want it [egg freezing] to be used as a tool to pressure players not to become pregnant while they are playing because they are and they should always be fully entitled to decide when and how to become pregnant,” Bruinewoud told DW.

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There are, she said, several other considerations with regards to fertility and football, including doping concerns.

“When players go through assistive reproduction in general and if they are going to freeze eggs, in some situations they have to take hormones. And these substances can be prohibited in the WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) code.

“So we want to be sure to prevent a player being sanctioned when they are actually only trying to become pregnant or prepare things to be able to become pregnant in the future,” said Bruinewoud.

Universal solution difficult to find

She added that with costs, recovery and procedures varying, mandating one blanket global rule would be near impossible, and should be guided by medical practitioners. It is also tough to apply any universal standard to a sport where professionalization and finance varies significantly between countries.

“In my view, the best solution for that is collective negotiation at national level,” Bruinewoud said. “These are very expensive procedures and most of the players worldwide will probably not have access to this because of the cost.”

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For all three women, the most important factors are choice, education and empowerment to get pregnant at a time that suits them. The hope is that, if managed well, egg freezing provides another option, rather than the default path.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

The latest episode of Monday Night RAW was a ticking time bomb that erupted in a spectacular fashion. The atmosphere was electric following the recent turmoil of Sunday Night’s Main Event. The anticipation was palpable leading up to the show, as there were rumors of a top star’s return. Triple H masterfully pulled the trigger, detonating one explosive moment after another.

Held at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, the show saw the progression of the feuds and storylines. Moreover, the qualifying matches for Money in the Bank also kicked off this week, with fans getting to witness some jaw-dropping action. The creative team delivered an incredible episode featuring several key moments that played a major role in advancing the ongoing storylines.

Here are five things Triple H got right on WWE RAW this week:

#5. Sol Ruca qualifying for the ladder match

WWE held a blockbuster qualifying match for the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match this week on RAW, where Sol Ruca battled Maxxine Dupri and Lyra Valkyria. The three women tore each other apart in an incredible showdown where fans saw several hard-hitting moves and quick action. But Ruca eventually secured a massive victory by pinning Valkyria.

Triple H made the right call by letting the 26-year-old qualify for the Money in the Bank match. Sol Ruca is one of the most tactical and agile superstars on the roster, perfectly suited for a high-stakes environment like the ladder match. Besides, Ruca is also featured in the Money in the Bank 2026 poster, making her inclusion in the premium live event indispensable.

#4. The Vision destroying Oba Femi on RAW

Oba Femi suffered a barbaric attack at the hands of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed at Sunday Night’s Main Event. This week on RAW, The Ruler charged into The Vision with the furious intent to exact revenge. However, he suffered the same fate. Breakker and Reed once again annihilated Femi by unleashing a series of thunderous Spears and Tsunamis off the top rope.

The Vision made yet another defining statement and it was exactly what was needed from them. Ever since Bronson Reed returned to WWE, the faction has looked like a menacing unit. Therefore, laying out a humongous force like Oba Femi for the second consecutive time perfectly added the intimidation factor to The Vision that was lacking for quite some time.

#3. Bron Breakker qualifying for the ladder match

Monday Night RAW witnessed another big qualifying match where Bron Breakker, Ethan Page and Rey Mysterio battled in a triple threat match. All three superstars were determined to punch their tickets to the Money in the Bank ladder match. Fans witnessed an incredible match from the starting bell to the end. But Breakker eventually outlasted everyone to secure a massive victory.

Letting the 28-year-old win was the right call, as he desperately needed this victory. Bron Breakker has been riding on red-hot momentum and there was no way Triple H could have halted that. His qualification in the Money in the Bank ladder match adds more unpredictability to the bout while putting The Vision in a prominent spotlight at the annual event.

#2. Royce Keys and OTM making a big statement

Ever since arriving on Monday Night RAW, Royce Keys and OTM have been wreaking havoc. The trio put The Bloodline on notice and waged a war against them. This week on RAW, the faction known as 946 made yet another statement. During the closing moments of the show, WWE showed backstage footage where they dismantled The Usos’ car and set it on fire.

The symbolism was pretty clear: they weren’t just attacking The Bloodline physically anymore; they were destroying them mentally. Triple H masterfully orchestrated the segment, showing an angle that instantly elevated the feud between 946 and The Bloodline. Royce Keys and OTM made a statement that they could do anything and reach anywhere.

#1. Bayley returning for payback on RAW

The biggest highlight of WWE RAW this week was Bayley’s shocking return. There were a lot of rumors swirling on the internet for the past few weeks about her status with the company. But Triple H finally cleared the air. During the women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match, The Role Model showed up out of nowhere and cost Lyra Valkyria her big opportunity.

Bayley unleashed a brutal attack on Valkyria after the match, making it clear that she has unfinished business. The multi-time women’s champion returning to the programming this week was the best call. This is because Money in the Bank is right around the corner and WWE couldn’t have afforded to keep a veteran star like Bayley on the bench for long.