One in thirty children in France conceived through assisted reproductive technology

Abstract

In France, one child in thirty is now being conceived through one of two methods of assisted reproductive technology (ART), either in vitro fertilization (IVF) or artificial insemination (AI). One baby in forty in that country is born using IVF. This share has been growing at a linear rate for over three decades. Altogether, 300,000 children were conceived in France by way of IVF from 1981 to late 2014. If this trend continues, the total will stand at 400,000 children by the end of 2019. 
Only 5% of ART activity in France involves gametes donated by a third party, primarily sperm, while there is a considerable shortage of donated eggs (oocytes). French law currently restricts ART to heterosexual couples of reproductive age. In this legal and organizational context, some French people go abroad to obtain donated gametes, particularly to Spain, Greece, the Czech Republic, Belgium, or Denmark.