The decline in fertility in Europe requires collective mobilization at the continental level. With an average birth rate of 1.46 children per woman, far from the threshold value of 2.1 for population replacement, the EU is in the midst of a demographic winter. The fertility crisis can be attributed to numerous socioeconomic, cultural, medical and environmental factors, making it particularly difficult to address. In this ‘challenge for all’, with the aim of advancing the debate and formulating concrete recommendations applicable in EU member states, 50 European experts are meeting today and tomorrow in Paris, at the ‘Tackling infertility’ event , organized under the aegis of Samir Hamamah, president of the French Federation of Reproductive Studies (Ffer), with the support of Merck. The meeting will be attended by healthcare professionals, researchers, patient associations and political decision-makers in a dialogue on the challenges linked to the decline in fertility and the birth crisis in Europe.
According to data published by Eurostat in 2022, the birth rate was 1.16 in Spain, 1.24 in Italy and 1.29 in Poland. Even France, with 1.79 children per woman, higher than the European average of 1.46, is not immune to the general decline: its fertility rate is estimated to decline to 1.68 in 2023. Defined by the Organization World Health Organization (WHO) as “the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse”, infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 people during the reproductive years, 25 million Europeans. Yet, despite the urgency of the situation, the birth rate has not yet been placed at the center of the agenda of European public policies. The responses provided so far, often limited to just one aspect of the problem and not coordinated, have failed to stop the decline in the birth rate.
In this context, the aim of the meeting on 3 and 4 October, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, is to encourage a holistic approach to the decline in fertility and to develop solutions for the various dimensions of the birth crisis in Europe, including infertility. The recommendations being worked on by the experts meeting in Paris focus on 3 key issues: raising awareness, access to care and strengthening public policies.
Many Europeans are unaware of the causes and possible solutions to infertility, but public awareness is a crucial issue. Experts are therefore working to explore various ways to effectively inform the public and combat stereotypes and prejudices, particularly among younger generations, who are generally less concerned with fertility issues. Particular attention is also paid to the initial and ongoing training of healthcare professionals, who play a key role in transmitting these prevention and information messages.
Among the various factors that weigh on infertility, in addition to lifestyle and exposure to harmful substances, there is also a lack of policies capable of promoting work-life balance and easy access to school services and nursery schools. According to experts, at a political level, adequate services and regulations are needed, which is why they recommend measures to support fertility, addressing the causes of infertility and facilitating parenthood plans.
Another key area of intervention is improving the journey of infertility patients. In Europe, for example, access to medically assisted procreation (PMA) remains highly variable. Based on the experience of patients or professionals and scientific literature, the conference will address the issue of inequalities in access to care, which may depend on the region of residence or on the economic coverage of the treatment. In addition to opportunities to improve treatment paths, with particular attention to diagnosis, medical and psychological support, the discussion will also concern the possible role of employers and adequate information for patients. The recommendations shared in the two days in Paris will be collected in a Manifesto, which will be communicated to European decision-makers and legislators to raise their awareness of the challenges posed by the fertility crisis and to provide them with paths of action on this serious problem for the future of the continent.
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