Bonjour, Baby? France Tells Millennials To Think About Having Kids And Freezing Eggs

Last Updated:February 11, 2026, 19:35 IST

The health ministry said the letters will provide “targeted, balanced and scientifically based information on sexual and reproductive health” to help young adults.

France is planning to send a letter to every 29-year-old in the country encouraging them to consider having children before fertility declines. The initiative is part of a 16-point plan aimed at addressing the nation’s declining birth rate.

The health ministry said the letters will provide “targeted, balanced and scientifically based information on sexual and reproductive health" to help young adults avoid the “if only I had known" mentality. Officials noted that infertility affects one in eight couples in France, highlighting the urgency of the policy.

Women will be reminded that they can freeze their eggs at age 29 without a medical certificate and social security covers the cost of freezing eggs for women between 29 and 37. The letters will also address biological clocks for both men and women, acknowledging that “the biological clocks are not the same but men have one too."

France Health Minister Stephanie Rist said the policy reflects a thorough analysis of infertility challenges.

“The challenges of infertility have been analysed in all their aspects," she said, allowing for the “immediate launch of concrete and long-awaited measures." She emphasised that the government’s role is “not to dictate whether or not to have children," but to educate and inform citizens about fertility options.

However, psychologist Marie-Estelle Dupont told The Times that measures such as extending maternity leave from 16 weeks to 26 weeks could have a greater impact on birth rates than sending letters as the correspondence may not have the desired effect on young people already navigating economic social, and personal pressures.

The letters are expected to reach hundreds of thousands of French 29-year-olds in the coming weeks, aiming to combine education with practical options for planning parenthood.

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