This Thursday, September 9, the Minister of Health announced that contraception will now be free “for all women up to 25 years”. But in his speech, Olivier Véran did not speak of the men, however concerned.
This Thursday, September 9, the Minister of Health and Solidarity Olivier Véran made a big announcement on the set of the program “Les 4 Vérités” on France 2. During his interview, the Minister announced that “Contraception will now be free for all women up to the age of 25.” This new measure will affect 1.6 million young women. To justify his decision, Olivier Véran explains having observed “A decline in contraception in a number of young women” and this for financial reasons. A situation “insupportable” for the minister who explained “that an effort of 21 million euros will be made this year”.
If the announcement was widely welcomed by professionals accompanying women on a daily basis, some people deplore that boys are not affected by this measure. In The Parisian, Marie-Laure Brival, gynecologist and obstetrician, sorry than “these government announcements forget the place of men in the sharing of contraception”. A feeling shared by Sarah Durocher, the National Co-President of Family Planning. In the pages of Release, she informs that she “Try to explain (to young people) that the responsibility is shared” Although on the whole, she says her speech is rather understood by boys, this is not enough. “We are making progress on this, but a public discourse by the State would be very important”.
What method of contraception for men?
The co-chair explains that “Things must be done in parallel and at the same time” and asks the Ministry of Health to organize an information campaign. At present, only three male contraceptives exist on the French market: the condom, the vasectomy or the heated brief. Its goal ? Warm the testicles by lifting them up to reduce sperm production.
Even scientists are talking about creating a male contraceptive pill, it does not yet exist on the market and it will take several more years before it arrives.