The French government has launched a significant information campaign aimed at supporting couples planning to have children, with a particular focus on 29-year-olds. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist announced the initiative on Tuesday, November 3, immediately following the submission of a report from the monitoring committee for the fertility plan.
By the end of November, all women and men in France who are 29 years old will receive an awareness letter from Assurance Maladie. This correspondence is designed to "give every adult the means to understand and preserve their fertility," according to Minister Rist.
The letter will encourage individuals considering parenthood to schedule a "preconception consultation" with a health professional. This consultation will allow them to review their overall health, lifestyle habits, and any concerns, ensuring they can "prepare a future pregnancy as well as possible." For couples who have been trying to conceive without success, the letter advises consulting a specialized health professional after one year of trying if under 35, or after six months if over 35, assuming no specific underlying issues have been identified.
While age is recognized as a crucial determinant of fertility, the campaign also highlights the influence of various medical, environmental, and behavioral factors, including diet, sleep patterns, physical activity levels, and the consumption of tobacco and alcohol.
This awareness campaign is not entirely new; it constitutes one of the 16 measures outlined in the anti-infertility plan presented by Stéphanie Rist last February. This broader plan was developed in response to President Emmanuel Macron's call for "demographic rearmament" in 2024.
Minister Rist underscored the prevalence of fertility challenges in France, noting that "15 to 25% of couples who wish to conceive a child encounter difficulties, that is more than three million people." She also expressed a desire to expand the number of centers offering egg self-preservation for non-medical reasons.
The information letter will also remind recipients that "it is possible to self-preserve one's gametes" (male or female reproductive cells) in France for future parenthood. Women can have oocytes (female reproductive cells) collected and stored between the ages of 29 and 37, for potential use up to 45. For men, sperm can be stored between 29 and 45, for possible use until age 59.
Last year, more than 20,000 women opted to store their oocytes for a future child, marking a 30% increase in just one year. However, waiting times for this procedure currently range from 14 to 24 months, depending on the region.
In addition to the letters, the government is rolling out the "Ma fertilité" portal, which centralizes relevant information on the Santé.fr website, alongside audio messages and posters displayed in doctors' waiting rooms.
In her statement, the Health Minister emphasized the broader significance of the initiative: "Fertility is a major public health issue that concerns both women and men. Too often, difficulties are discovered late, whereas we can act earlier to better inform, prevent and support."
