“A major plan to combat infertility. » Emmanuel Macron announced this during his press conference on Tuesday January 16 at the Elysée Palace. A plan to respond to an observation: In France On average, one in four couples has difficulty becoming parents and the birth rate of the French population has been declining for several years. In 2023, the total fertility index was 1.68 children per woman, compared to 1.79 in 2022 the annual demographic report of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), presented on Tuesday. The number of births fell by 6.6% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The plan presented by the President of the Republic broadly includes: the conclusions of the report held in February 2022 by Doctor Samir Hamamah, Head of the Department of Reproductive Biology at Montpellier University Hospital, and Salomé Berlioux, founder of the Chemins d’avenirs association. In an interview for the Podcast “(In)fertile”the gynecologist returns to his suggestions for improving infertility treatment in France.

You co-authored the report on infertility in France. How do you react to the President of the Republic’s announcements?

I am very happy about this announcement. Infertility arises from their isolation. It is no longer viewed as a shameful disease. We understand that it affects everyone. I am proud to have carried this report from a distance. Today the government released a €30 million fund to support women’s health. It’s a start. Calls for proposals for research funding projects will be published on January 29th. It is moving !

How to better manage infertility?

Through prevention. The Bioethics Law of August 2, 2021 was crucial because women and men can now store a few eggs or a few sperm without any medical problems. But for the sake of completeness, we have to address young people in advance. It’s time to talk to teenagers about fertility in middle school. It’s not about making them feel guilty, nor about moralizing them, nor about making them take the blame, nor about appearing pro-natalist. It’s just about giving them practical advice. Treatment for infertility must be holistic and go beyond medical care.

I would also like to see a national institute for fertility and childbirth created, as was done with the National Cancer Institute in 2005. This would make it possible to create an interface between all affected ministries and to make this issue known to the public.

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