In his first prime-time news conference since forming a new government, French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted several significant challenges facing France, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as a concerning rise in infertility rates.
Describing infertility as a “scourge,” Macron proposed a “major plan” aimed at reversing France’s declining birthrate. Among the measures under consideration is offering free fertility checks to 25-year-olds as part of routine medical evaluations. This proposal has generated considerable debate within France.
Critics argue that encouraging young adults to consider their fertility at such an early age is premature. Some women have expressed discomfort with the idea, feeling that it places undue pressure on them. Women’s rights groups, including Anne-Cécile Mailfert of the Women’s Foundation advocacy group, have voiced concerns that the government should focus more on making child-rearing affordable and addressing pressing issues like climate change, rather than pressuring individuals about their fertility.
Mailfert’s response to the proposal was pointed: “Leave our uteruses in peace.” She argues that a more supportive environment for families—through improved public education and housing—would naturally encourage more people to have children.
Amélie Beauchemin, a 30-year-old lawyer in Paris, criticized the plan as “completely crazy,” suggesting that it is unrealistic for a country where the average age for first-time mothers is 31 to push 25-year-olds to consider their fertility. “It’s much too early,” she said.
As part of a broader strategy to address the issue, Macron also proposed replacing traditional parental leave with a new “birth leave” scheme that would offer better pay and support a quicker return to work. Additional measures under consideration include enhanced support for those seeking fertility treatments such as IVF. The Health Ministry is tasked with developing a detailed plan, which will be presented to the government in the coming months.
Macron referred to infertility as the “taboo of the century,” linking it to France’s declining birthrate. A 2022 parliamentary report estimated that nearly 14% of French adults aged 20 to 49 have faced infertility issues requiring medical intervention. This issue is not unique to France; the World Health Organization reported that about one in six adults globally experience infertility.
The rise in infertility contributes to France’s demographic challenges. In 2023, the country recorded only 678,000 births, with 47,000 more live births than deaths—the lowest number since World War II. Policymakers are concerned that a declining birthrate could lead to fewer young workers to support the country’s social security system and pension obligations for an aging population.
Experts suggest that the reasons behind declining fertility rates are complex and multifaceted. Beauchemin, who plans to have a child in the near future, criticized the government’s focus on infertility as overly simplistic. She highlighted that factors such as the high cost of childcare, career impact, and environmental concerns also play significant roles in decisions about having children. “You have to make people want to have children,” she said. “It’s not just a question of whether we have the mechanical and scientific ability to have them.”
Despite the controversy, some believe that offering free fertility tests could still be beneficial if targeted at slightly older individuals. “If right now I had the opportunity to go for a free fertility checkup, I would definitely do it,” said Beauchemin.
In his speech, Macron acknowledged that infertility is just one factor in the broader trend of declining birthrates. He noted that shifting societal norms, delayed childbearing, and past policy choices, such as cuts to child subsidies, have also contributed to the current situation.
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