IVF for lesbian couples and single women in France has difficult birth
rfi.frEnfants d’arc en ciel – a support group for lesbian couples and single women seeking MAP.“It’s frustrating and many women are continuing to go to Spain or Belgium...
it’s quicker and going more smoothly there.”It's a costly process though, unlike in France where treatment is free for women up to the age of 43.“Faced with the log-jam, the only thing we can do is get organised little by little, but that only works when staff are ready and have time to process the requests,” said Guillemain.This subject first featured in the Spotlight on France podcast.
Listen to the interview with Eloïne Fouilloux.LGBT groups argue the government should have anticipated the surge in demand and prepared for it.In an attempt to speed up waiting times, health minister Véran announced in early October an additional 8 million euros for extra staff and equipment for fertility clinics.But the impact won’t be immediate.
France’s hospitals are understaffed and health professionals say it’s especially hard to recruit biologists, gynaecologists and psychologists.“Hiring staff takes time,” says Fouilloux, who also fears that in cash-strapped hospitals the funding might not end up where it was intended.“If the hospital is short of money, hiring a medical secretary is obviously not going to be a priority,” she sighs.“It’s a transition period, and an uncomfortable one,” recognises Dr Claire de Vienne from France’s state-funded Agency of Biomedecine.De Vienne told RFI the problem was not lack of sperm.“We have the stocks of sperm straws, we have the donors,” she said, “but we have to be able to give these women appointments.
