France is launching a nationwide fertility-awareness campaign aimed at people aged 29, with health insurance letters encouraging adults to understand reproductive health and seek advice before trying to have children. The initiative is part of the government’s broader anti-infertility plan announced earlier this year.
By the end of November, Assurance Maladie is expected to send the information to 29-year-old women and men across France. The campaign will also include online resources, audio information and posters in medical waiting rooms.
What France’s fertility campaign will include
The letter is designed to help adults make informed decisions about fertility, rather than to direct them towards a particular reproductive choice. People who hope to become parents will be encouraged to arrange a preconception consultation with a healthcare professional.
That consultation can provide an opportunity to discuss:
- General health and existing medical conditions
- Diet, sleep and physical activity
- Tobacco and alcohol consumption
- Questions about reproductive health
- Planning for a future pregnancy
The government also plans to promote the “Ma fertilité” information portal on Santé.fr. The resource is intended to bring together practical information about fertility, prevention and available support.
When should couples seek medical advice?
The guidance reminds people that fertility is influenced by age, but also by medical, environmental and lifestyle factors. It recommends seeking specialised advice when pregnancy has not occurred after one year of trying for people under 35, or after six months for those aged over 35.
These timeframes are general guidance and do not replace medical advice. People with known health concerns or specific reasons for seeking help may be advised to consult a professional earlier.
The campaign is aimed at both women and men. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist has described fertility as a public-health issue affecting both sexes, noting that difficulties are sometimes identified later than they could be.
Egg and sperm preservation in France
A central part of the information campaign is explaining that people in France can preserve their gametes—oocytes or sperm—for a possible future parenthood project.
The information sent to 29-year-olds states that:
- Women may have oocytes collected and stored between the ages of 29 and 37, for possible use up to age 45.
- Men may store sperm between ages 29 and 45, for possible use up to age 59.
The government wants to expand the number of centres able to provide non-medical egg preservation. Demand has risen sharply: more than 20,000 women requested oocyte storage in the previous year, representing a 30% increase over one year, according to the figures cited by the health minister.
However, access is not uniform across France. Waiting times reportedly range from 14 to 24 months depending on the region, creating a practical challenge for people considering the procedure.
Why the initiative matters
The campaign forms one of 16 measures in France’s national plan to address infertility, presented in February. It follows the wider political debate about demographic trends and the government’s call for earlier information and support for people who may wish to have children.
France says between 15% and 25% of couples who want to conceive encounter difficulties. That estimate represents more than three million people and helps explain why the government is treating fertility information as a public-health priority.
The campaign does not remove the medical, financial or social factors that can affect decisions about parenthood. Its immediate purpose is to make information available earlier, before some people reach the point of needing specialist treatment.
What happens next?
Assurance Maladie is expected to distribute the letters by the end of November, while the “Ma fertilité” portal and materials for healthcare settings are being rolled out alongside them. The monitoring committee’s report, submitted to the health minister on 3 November, will help inform the next phase of the government’s plan.
For people in France, the main takeaway is that the letter is an invitation to seek reliable information and medical advice—not a diagnosis or a guarantee about future fertility. Anyone concerned about their reproductive health should discuss their circumstances with a qualified healthcare professional.
France’s fertility campaign places prevention and earlier counselling at the centre of its response to infertility. Its effectiveness will depend not only on reaching 29-year-olds, but also on whether people can obtain timely consultations and access to fertility-preservation services when needed.