France is stepping up its efforts to tackle infertility with a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at 29-year-olds. The health insurance system, Assurance Maladie, will send letters to men and women of that age by the end of November, encouraging them to think about their fertility and seek medical advice if they plan to have children.
The initiative was announced by Health Minister Stéphanie Rist on Tuesday, following the submission of a report from the monitoring committee for the government's fertility plan. The plan, unveiled in February, is part of President Emmanuel Macron's broader call for "demographic rearmament" — a phrase he used in 2024 to signal concern about falling birth rates.
Preconception consultations and practical advice
The letters will invite recipients to book a "preconception consultation" with a health professional. This is designed to review their health, lifestyle, and any concerns before a potential pregnancy. The goal, according to the minister, is to "give every adult the means to understand and preserve their fertility."
For couples who are trying to conceive without success, the letter offers clear guidance: seek specialist help after one year of trying if under 35, and after six months if over 35. Age is a key factor, but the government stresses that diet, sleep, physical activity, and tobacco or alcohol use also play significant roles.
Alongside the letters, the government is promoting the "Ma fertilité" portal, a dedicated section on the Santé.fr website. It will feature audio messages and posters in doctors' waiting rooms to reinforce the message.
Egg freezing and growing demand
The campaign also highlights the option of gamete self-preservation. In France, women can have their oocytes collected and stored between ages 29 and 37, for use up to age 45. For men, sperm can be stored between 29 and 45, for use up to 59. Last year, more than 20,000 women requested oocyte storage — a 30% increase in one year — but waiting times vary from 14 to 24 months depending on the region.
Rist said she wants to increase the number of centres able to provide egg freezing for non-medical reasons. "Fertility is a major public health issue that concerns both women and men," she wrote in a statement. "Too often, difficulties are discovered late, whereas we can act earlier to better inform, prevent and support."
The campaign is one of 16 measures in the anti-infertility plan. It comes as France, like many European countries, faces demographic challenges. The government's focus on fertility has sparked debate, with some critics questioning the emphasis on individual responsibility rather than addressing broader social and economic factors that influence family planning.
For now, the immediate step is practical: by the end of November, hundreds of thousands of 29-year-olds will receive a letter that could prompt them to think about their reproductive future. Whether it will lead to more births remains to be seen, but the message is clear: earlier awareness, better prevention.
