Agence de la biomédecine reaches out to the French to raise awareness of gamete donation
Published on 5 October 2024
From September 18 to October 11, 2024, the Agence de la biomédecine is launching a nationwide tour to rapidly and massively recruit new gamete donors. This tour is a continuation of the #FaitesDesParents campaign launched in October 2023. A bus will stop in 10 French towns with a gamete donation center. In collaboration with doctors from donation centers and representatives of associations, the Agence de la biomédecine intends to reach out to the local public and raise awareness of the urgent need for new donors.
#FaitesDesParents, the tour
Rapidly increasing the number of gamete donors: a challenge to meet growing and diversified needs
Although the annual trend in the number of gamete donations has been on the rise since 2015, they remain highly insufficient to meet the needs of people waiting for a donation as part of medically assisted procreation (MAP).
Indeed, since the law of August 2, 2021 on bioethics extending access to MPA to female couples and unmarried women, the number of requests for care, for medically assisted procreation (MPA) with sperm donation, has exploded with almost 13,000 requests in 2023 compared with around 2,000 per year before 2021.
In addition to the urgent need to increase the quantity of donations, there is also a need to increase the diversity of donor profiles, to enable everyone to have a child that resembles them.
Men aged 18 to 44 inclusive and women aged 18 to 37 inclusive, i.e. all potential gamete donors, represent 18 million of the French population (source INSEE). However, according to a survey carried out by the Agence de la biomédecine in April 2024[1], while 80% of people of donating age say they are in favor of donation, young people seem more reluctant to take the plunge. For 66% of those questioned, better information on the lack of donations and on the donation process in general seems to be a lever for encouraging donation. Every year, only 1,600 donors take the plunge.
A tour of France to raise awareness of gamete donation: 10 towns, 10 dates, 10 venues to raise awareness and recruit donors
To meet this need for information, the Agence de la biomédecine will be reaching out to potential donors from September 18 to October 11 in 10 towns and cities with a donation center.
Over the course of a day (10am-6pm), healthcare professionals from local donation centers, representatives of patient associations and former donors will be on hand around the #FaitesDesParents bus parked in a high-traffic area to raise awareness, answer questions and encourage potential donors to take this generous step. Games and educational activities will also be available to help people understand the principles and stages of donation, as well as the urgency and necessity of donating for people on the waiting list.
"I would like to thank all those who are working with us to reach out to the French and recruit the new donors we so desperately need to meet the demand from women and couples on the waiting list. Health professionals from donation centers and patient associations will be on hand, along with donors and recipients, to share their stories and raise awareness of this life-changing gift. There's only one thing to remember: "If you become a parent, you'll make a lot of people happy", says Marine Jeantet, Director General of the Agence de la biomédecine.
All those who wish to do so will have the opportunity to make an appointment on site with health professionals from local donation centers to obtain further information on gamete donation and to initiate the donation process.