WeMoms
24 May 2022

Fertilization and fertility problems

Trying to conceive

If all your attempts to get pregnant are unsuccessful, you should know that about one in seven couples experiences fertility problems. These problems affect both men and women. Rest assured, there are solutions for every problem. Talk to your doctor about using one of the assisted reproductive technologies.


  • If you have been trying to have a child for at least two years without success, assisted reproduction can be considered. If not, you will need to be patient.
  • In France, to be eligible for assisted human reproduction (AHR), you must be under 43 years of age and have been married or cohabiting with your spouse for at least two years. For the sake of the unborn child, this is a regulated procedure.
  • There are many techniques of medically assisted reproduction. A clinical assessment with your doctor will allow you to find the cause of your infertility and choose the most appropriate solution.
  • The oldest and most natural technique—artificial insemination—consists of injecting sperm directly into the uterus. It is preferable to choose this method if the medical examination does not show any problems with your fallopian tubes.
  • Otherwise, you can use in vitro fertilization (IVF). Here, the egg is fertilized outside the uterus and then placed back in. This technique is also effective in cases of ovulation problems, in addition to hormonal treatment.
  • If the tests show that you are infertile because of a tubal obstruction and that this problem is associated with a lack of sperm or a hereditary disease in your partner, in vitro fertilization will be done on the basis of an egg donation.
  • If both you and your spouse suffer from a hereditary disease, embryo donation will be recommended.
  • You should know that in France, the use of a surrogate mother is prohibited.
  • Before embarking on this great adventure, contact the Social Security department. A 100% reimbursement is provided upon presentation of the doctor's medical certificate.

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Surrogate motherhood

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The use of a surrogate mother, authorized in some countries, is prohibited in France. What drives some people to this solution?


  • Surrogate motherhood is a method of assisted reproduction.
  • The use of a surrogate mother concerns mainly couples in a situation of infertility and homosexual couples.
  • In concrete terms, it involves using a woman who will carry another couple's baby throughout the pregnancy and give it to the parents at birth.
  • In France, surrogate motherhood is punishable by law, but some parents turn to countries where the legislation is more favorable.

The principles of artificial insemination

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Your doctor has suggested artificial insemination to fulfill your desire to be a mother and you would like to know more about it? We inform you on the subject.


  • Artificial insemination is governed by bioethical laws and is therefore only performed in authorized centers.
  • In France, only married or cohabiting couples who have been living under the same roof for at least two years and are of childbearing age can have recourse to it.
  • Before embarking on the great adventure, you must apply to the Social Security department for coverage of the clinical and biological tests.

Assisted medical reproduction: techniques

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To fulfill your wish to become a mother, you can give a little help to Mother Nature by resorting to medically assisted procreation (MAP).


  • In case of infertility in men or women, it is possible to resort to MAP.
  • There are several techniques, depending on the case, the most common being in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination.
  • Artificial insemination mimics natural procreation by helping the sperm to be in the right place at the right time.
  • In vitro fertilization allows the fertilization of the egg outside the uterus.

Focus on in vitro fertilization!

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If you're waiting for a baby and want to help Mother Nature, here are the main steps of in vitro fertilization.


  • It all starts with stimulation of your egg production with hormonal treatment.
  • Then comes the monitoring of your ovaries to verify that your body is responding properly.
  • Once the eggs have matured, they are retrieved, along with the sperm, in a medical environment.
  • Fertilization is then carried out in the laboratory and the eggs are cultured until embryos are obtained.
  • The best ones are selected and implanted in the cervix with the help of a catheter.

Sperm and egg donations

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How does it work, is it easy to donate sperm or eggs?


  • First of all, it is important to know that donating your gametes, i.e. your oocytes or sperm is a free and anonymous act.
  • Thanks to this donation, people with fertility problems can have recourse to medically assisted reproduction, in particular IVF.
  • Sperm donation is easier than egg donation, which requires ovarian stimulation and treatment, which is why it takes an average of three years to receive a donation.

Sterility and infertility: not the same battle

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When we talk about infertility and sterility, are we talking about the same thing? We'll explain the differences between these two concepts.


  • It is estimated that a couple's chances of conceiving are 25% each cycle.
  • After one year of unsuccessful attempts, this is defined as infertility, which can sometimes be remedied by medical treatment.
  • Sterility describes the impossibility of conceiving and may require the use of a medically assisted reproduction technique, such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

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