While the “demographic rearmament” mentioned last Tuesday by Emmanuel Macron during his press conference on Jupiter, has raised – rightly – doubts among many feminists, the government is already evaluating various avenues to implement in its plan “big fertility plan”.
According to information from The Sunday Tribunepublished on Sunday 21 January and confirmed on the same day by Aurore Bergé, a fertility assessment would be offered to women and men from the age of 25, “ the age at which women are most fertile”. Covered 100% by health insurance, it would consist of a gynecological examination for women and a spermogram for men.
Responsible for after-sales service for this measure during the “Political Questions” program broadcast simultaneously on France Inter, Franceinfo and on the website of Worldthe minister responsible for equality between women and men declared that he noticed this “it’s a good track”. “It’s not a deceptive argument, it’s not a trivial argument. » According to Aurore Bergé, infertility is today experienced as “an absolute tragedy for women and men who want children and cannot have them”.
“Truly, in our journey as women, when have we been asked this question? In men’s careers, when do we talk about it? Who do we talk to about it? »added the minister delegate, according to whom people suffering from infertility are often informed too late.
Read also: Demographic rearmament: “This pronatalist discourse echoes an imagination deeply rooted in the far right”
1 in 8 couples is affected by infertility in France
It is clear that infertility is a real topic for many would-be parents today. According to the World Health Organization, 186 million people are affected by infertility worldwide.
In France, according to Inserm, one in eight couples consults due to difficulty conceiving a child and 10% of couples remain sterile after two years of trying.
While on the one hand we can therefore rejoice that the government is addressing such an issue, we question the relevance of an assessment of fertility at 25 years of age, an age at which many young adults do not yet intend to have children and do not have a stable professional figure. and financial situation (or even continue your studies). We remind you that INSEE has shown that in 2023 the first pregnancy occurs on average at the age of 31 for women.
No reimbursement for endometriosis screening test
A point raised on Sunday by Aurore Bergé. According to her, the main cause of infertility is related to the fact that women “have kids” later and later in life. And one of the reasons would be the professional inequalities between women and men, assures the minister.
No word, however, on endometriosis, a pathology that affects one in ten women and whose most serious forms compromise fertility, nor on a possible 100% coverage of the saliva screening test, and the price of which is estimated at 800 euros . On Monday 8 January, the High Authority for Health (HAS) issued a favorable opinion on the conditional reimbursement of this saliva test, without yet any response from the government.
Finally, Aurore Bergé mentioned other avenues being studied, such as the creation of leaves for women engaged in an assisted reproduction process and “the review of parental leave” into shorter, better-paid birth leave. «Today it doesn’t work: not even 1% of fathers use it because the compensation is very low, maximum 430 euros per month. » According to the delegated minister, compensation “proportionate to the latest income level” he could see the light of day.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
