“France is moving forward, but very slowly, too bad …” regrets Aurélie, 35 years old. She had launched solo in medically assisted procreation (MAP) abroad, tired of waiting for the law to change in France. And despite
the publication on September 28 of the decrees making assisted reproduction for all a reality, it has not changed anything in its plans. This is the case for many of our readers. They confided in us their joy, but above all their disappointment at a new law that is not currently accessible.
“The meeting with the biologist from Cecos is scheduled for March 2022”
After years of procrastination and two years of parliamentary shuttle, the bioethics law was voted in early August. It was then necessary to wait for the publication in Official newspaper decrees specifying certain elements (in particular the maximum age for the collection of oocytes, 43 years). And for nearly a week therefore, centers for medically assisted procreation have been able to support couples of women and solo women. Problem: they are already underwater.
Waiting times for couples already launched in a assisted reproduction project are around one year in public hospitals. And with this additional demand, delays are likely to explode. “We are leaving Toulouse University Hospital,” reacts Marie, 38 years old. The appointment with the biologist from Cecos is scheduled for March 2022. And yet my medical file is complete, so logically, no medical reason justifies waiting, except the lack of means! “
“This law is far from being applied and applicable”
Like others, Audrey, 38, got tired of waiting. “I closely followed the progress, the back-pedaling, the incessant ping-pong between the Assembly and the Senate, the modalities… And I ended up resigning myself and no longer wanting to expect anything from my country »Direction Belgium. “The adventure started on June 7, 2021, a 3 hour drive from my home. I met wonderful people at the CHU de Liège, who accompanied me in my project and very quickly. “
She began ovarian stimulation in September, then the ovarian puncture on the 17th and the transfer on the 20th. “I lost this first fight, since IVF was a failure. It was a hard blow, but I immediately wanted to bounce back, so I contacted the assisted reproduction centers around my home. And the same answers came back to me: despite the decree, things are far from possible, and they do not even know if they will be able to open dates for single women or in female couples next year. . This law, despite the fact that it is now on paper, is far from being applied and applicable. And many women in my case, alone and with or without fertility problems, will no longer be old enough to be cared for. “
“There is a lot of waiting, we are badly informed, badly oriented”
This concern for the biological clock is shared by many of our Internet users. “It’s been three years since I started a solo assisted reproduction in Spain,” reveals 36-year-old Jessica. I expect a lot from the opening of the assisted reproduction in France, I intend to register on the waiting lists, hoping that the delay will not spoil my chances of success, as I age. However, I continue to learn about new Spanish clinics. “
Same fear on the side of Amanda, 35, in a relationship with a woman. “We have been waiting for many years for our country to grant us this right, it is done. But there is a lot of waiting, we are misinformed, misguided. We are both over 34 years old and our chances are diminishing; to have a child is our dearest wish, but at what cost and after how long? “
Laetitia, 39, also shares this mixed feeling. “I was betting a lot on this law until several gynecologists let me know that my waiting time will be at least two years and given my age, I was therefore advised to continue abroad. I hope we won’t be let down. And if it is not for me, I believe strongly in it for the following generations. This is already a very good step forward. “
“We hope that the campaign will encourage men to donate their sperm”
This advance will only result in pregnancies if the sperm donation and human resources are increased. What the government wants. Olivier Véran is committed to reducing the timeframe to initiate a six-month assisted reproduction program and has released the block to do so.
an additional budget of 4 million euros starting this year. In addition, an awareness campaign for sperm donation is planned for October. “We hope that the campaign will encourage some men to donate their sperm so that this law can allow us to really start our families,” said Julae, 32.
For Sophie, 5 months pregnant after an “artisanal” assisted reproduction in France, this awareness campaign is only one step. “Subsequently, I would like another child via assisted reproduction, hoping that France authorizes the use of foreign sperm banks. In European countries such as Spain, Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic, donors are paid, unlike France. Until donors are paid, the available sperm samples will not increase. “