The expectations of single women and couples of women were immense. As soon as the decrees authorizing assisted reproduction (medically assisted procreation) were published in September, the dedicated department of the Rouen University Hospital was inundated with requests: 250 in a month when there are 40 requests each year from infertile couples. However, the head of the cecos reproductive biology laboratory, Professor Nathalie Rives, is reassuring: “We knew it was going to happen and we will do everything to meet expectations and make it go well“.

Facing a very strong increase in activity

To meet expectations, it is necessary to open consultations and therefore recruit, train and obtain funding. Professor Rives recognizes that the days are dense at the moment. The objective is therefore to respond but also to maintain reasonable waiting times. They are about three months today for the first date. But it is also necessary that the reserves of gametes are sufficient and that is the stake.

The need for gamete donation

For infertile couples and now single women and female couples, medically assisted procreation involves the donation of gametes, spermatozoa and sometimes also oocytes. in the face of the explosion in demand, stocks must be reinforced, hence an information campaign entitled “Thank you” broadcast on different media. At the same time, actions will begin until the beginning of 2022. What is reassuring explains Professor Nathalie Rives is that “with each campaign, we immediately see the impact with an increase in donors“. It is all the more important that the law also changes on this aspect. In September 2022, the donations of gametes will no longer be anonymous and we can fear an impact. Once again, the head of service wants to do proof of optimism: “In France, it will be almost 4 years of discussions and all of this has gradually made it possible to inform, to change mentalities. So there is a preparation. We found that it was too long but in the end, in certain aspects, it had a beneficial effect.“. Today, waiting times are 9 months for sperm donation, 18 months to 2 years for egg donation and Nathalie Rives hope to be able to offer better.

Giving for thousands of “thanks” is easy. It is necessary to be between 18 and 45 years old for the men, 18 and 37 for the women and it is no longer necessary today to have already had children. The donation is free but all costs are covered.