France will in future pay women up to the age of 25 contraceptives

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Contraceptive pills

Photo: PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP

In the future, France will give more support to young women in making self-determined decisions about contraception.

Contraception means will be free of charge for women up to 25 years of age starting next year.

This was announced by France's Minister of Health Olivier Véran, according to French media.

The measure will therefore cost the state around 21 million euros annually.

"In collaboration with the scientific authorities, I have observed a decline in contraception among a certain number of young women," Véran told France 2 broadcaster. The main reason was a lack of money for financial reasons.

It is "unbearable" that women who want to use contraception are unable to do so.

The state will therefore take over the financing of hormonal contraception, but also prescription advice and any medical care.

Young girls between the ages of 15 and 18 have been offered free contraception since 2013.

As a result, the abortion rate among young women fell significantly from 9.5 to 6 per 1,000 between 2012 and 2018.

Since August 2020, younger girls have also been allowed to receive contraceptives.

Financing for minors too

The extension to such a young age was controversial.

The French government justified them with reference to the figures: According to this, almost 1,000 young girls between the ages of 12 and 14 are pregnant every year in the country, and 770 of these pregnancies would result in an abortion.

Véran explained that women up to the age of 25 should now also benefit from the state support on the threshold of growing up.

In economic and social terms, age corresponds to an "increase in autonomy".

In Germany, hormonal contraceptives such as the pill or hormone IUDs are only available on prescription.

Most women have to pay them themselves, until their 22nd birthday the statutory health insurance pays the costs.

mrc / Reuters