Hospital Ruber Internacional and the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) have signed a collaboration agreement to make the expertise of the hospital’s Assisted Reproduction Unit available to AFE members and their first-degree relatives. Through this partnership, both organisations are taking a further step in their commitment to promoting health and supporting professional footballers in their plans for motherhood and fatherhood.

The agreement highlights the expertise of Hospital Ruber Internacional, part of Quirónsalud Group, in reproductive medicine. Through this collaboration, AFE members will have access to highly specialised and personalised fertility care, as well as complementary diagnostic tests which, when indicated by the medical team, can be carried out within the Quirónsalud network of healthcare centres.

Services covered by the agreement include fertility preservation, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), within a healthcare model based on personalised medicine, technological innovation and clinical excellence.

From a clinical perspective, Dr Yosu Franco, Director of the Assisted Reproduction Laboratory at Hospital Ruber Internacional, explains: "Reproductive medicine has evolved enormously in recent years thanks to the introduction of new diagnostic and laboratory technologies. Being able to offer these tools to AFE members will allow us to design highly personalised treatment strategies and increase the chances of success of each treatment."

He adds: "Every patient has different needs, which is why coordinated work between gynaecologists, andrologists, embryologists, geneticists and laboratory staff is essential to provide comprehensive care based on scientific evidence."

David Aganzo, Managing Director and President of AFE, said: "This agreement represents another step forward in the Association’s commitment to providing our members with services that contribute to their wellbeing both on and off the pitch. Bringing in the expertise of a leading centre such as Hospital Ruber Internacional enables us to continue expanding a comprehensive approach to care that responds to the real needs of footballers and their families."

For his part, Geni Martínez de las Heras, Director of AFE’s Health Department, highlighted: "Reproductive health is part of athletes’ overall wellbeing, and an increasing number of professionals are seeking specialist advice to plan their families or preserve their fertility. Thanks to this agreement, our members will have access to a leading specialist unit, with the reassurance of being supported by a highly specialised team and the most advanced technology."

The agreement will initially remain in force for one year, with the possibility of renewal, and further strengthens Hospital Ruber Internacional’s strategy of establishing partnerships with leading organisations to make the high-quality care provided by its highly specialised units available to new groups.