UK-first partnership between Care Fertility and the PFA
Care Fertility and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) brings fertility support to players
Care Fertility, the UK’s largest fertility provider, and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the world’s largest domestic sportspersons union, today announce a new UK-first partnership which will provide players from across England’s professional leagues with fertility education and benefits.The collaboration is a first-of-its-kind for a UK sporting organisation, and responds to a growing awareness around reproductive health and parenthood in elite sport, particularly among female athletes whose full-time careers in sport can present unique challenges around starting a family.
The partnership will offer players in both the men’s and women’s game access to clinician-led family planning education, practical fertility support, as well as member-only benefits towards selected fertility treatments.
Care Fertility is among the UK’s most trusted fertility clinics, with over 20 sites nationwide, and its range of specialists will make confidential guidance around reproductive care accessible to PFA members at every stage of their fertility journey.
Designed for players
Designed collaboratively between the PFA and Care Fertility, and backed by the union’s Players’ Board leadership group, the partnership will combine medical expertise with confidential care to strengthen the health and wellbeing support available to the PFA membership.
The programme will:
- Deliver fertility education and awareness to current and former professional players
- Roll out nationwide access to education through webinars, in-person events and a dedicated PFA member digital hub
- Offer confidential, clinical signposting to Care Fertility clinics and specialist services for assessment, preservation and treatment
- Create resources for partners and families to reduce stigma and increase understanding of fertility journeys
Frances Kitching, a former professional footballer for Liverpool and Crystal Palace and member of the PFA’s women’s football division, underwent fertility treatment with Care Fertility. After welcoming her first baby, Reuben, in 2026, she has spoken about the potential impact the partnership could have on other current and former players.
“Going through treatment was daunting at times, but I received genuine support throughout the whole process from Care Fertility. I had experts on hand who answered all of my questions and guided me through my path to clinical care calmly and compassionately, answering any questions we had along the way.
“Football is an amazing but incredibly uncertain career, so thinking about family planning isn’t always straightforward for players and is often a taboo subject in clubs. This partnership will make a massive difference with both education and practical options for players and I’m really looking forward to helping our members make the most of the support.”
A landmark moment for player welfare
Dr Victoria Sephton, Chief Medical Officer of Care Fertility, commented:
“Professional sport is so physically and emotionally demanding on players, and fertility is simultaneously one of the most personal and least discussed parts of that journey. This partnership with the PFA is a UK-first opportunity to bring clinically-led, confidential support directly into the game.
“By combining education with accessible specialist care, we can help players at every level understand their options, reduce stigma and ensure they feel supported in making informed decisions about their future family planning, whenever the time is right for them.”
Maheta Molango, CEO of the PFA, added:
“It’s important to approach conversations around parenthood with compassion and a clear understanding of the pressures that footballers face. For players, when success on the pitch - and even future job stability - relies so heavily on consistent availability and performance, conversations around family planning can be difficult.
“We’ve listened to feedback from our members on this, and so I’m really pleased that we’re able to offer this service. I’m sure there are many players who will benefit from having confidential conversations with a specialist about their options. This work will go hand in hand with our efforts to ensure that players across all professional leagues are able to access the guidance and support they need about starting a family.”
For more information please contact carefertility@itsmavern.com