In brief

Published on 23 April 2025

In France today, all women have access to medically assisted procreation, whether they are in a relationship with a man, a woman or not married. This development, made possible by bioethics legislation, sometimes requires the donation of gametes, the availability of which is essential. The Agence de la biomédecine oversees, coordinates and controls all activities relating to gamete donation and medically assisted procreation, with the aim of ensuring quality, safety and fair access throughout France.

Assisted reproduction techniques and gamete donation

Assisted reproduction encompasses a number of techniques, such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, which enable people suffering from infertility or unmarried women to realize a parental project. In some cases, when it is not possible to use the couple's own oocytes or spermatozoa, a gamete donation is required to implement these techniques. All these practices are strictly regulated by law, to guarantee the safety of the procedures and respect for the rights of the people concerned.

Supervision, support and assessment

The Agence de la biomédecine contributes to the development of regulations and oversees their application. It issues opinions on the authorization of centers' activities, and issues specific authorizations, notably for the transfer of embryos or the import and export of gametes. The Agency supports healthcare professionals by drawing up recommendations, and manages several national registers: the gamete and embryo donor register, and the medically assisted procreation register. It also supports medical and scientific research in this field.

Tools to guarantee the monitoring and quality of practices

The Agency monitors, evaluates and controls activities. It carries out inspections and coordinates the AMP vigilance system, which is responsible for detecting and monitoring serious incidents and adverse events. These actions ensure the traceability of donations, the transparency of practices and the safety of the people concerned. It is also responsible for processing data relating to persons undergoing medically assisted procreation, oocyte donors and donor offspring. Finally, it assesses the potential consequences of assisted reproduction techniques on the health of patients and children born as a result of these procedures.

Informing, raising awareness and promoting gamete donation

The opening up of medically assisted procreation to all women, provided for in the 2021 bioethics law, has led to an increase in the need for gamete donations. In response, the Agence de la biomédecine is conducting information and awareness-raising campaigns, in conjunction with its institutional partners, healthcare professionals, donation centers and associations. Based on surveys, evaluation data and a multi-channel strategy (social networks, press, posters, events), these campaigns aim to encourage a voluntary, anonymous and free approach, and to diversify donor profiles.

In this section, you'll find key figures, publications, actions and resources on gamete donation and medically assisted procreation.