The reality of IVF waiting times in France in 2025

France has one of the most generous public healthcare systems for IVF in the world — up to 4 fully covered IVF cycles, 6 covered artificial insemination cycles. The catch? The waiting times to access those cycles have become a serious problem.

WoMA's research across 47 French IVF centres reveals an average wait of 13 months between requesting a first appointment and actually starting treatment. In Paris and other major cities, that figure rises to 18-24 months. For egg donation, waiting lists run 3 to 5 years.

Behind these numbers are real stories: the 38-year-old who spends 18 months on a waiting list, only to find she has aged out of certain protocols by the time her treatment begins. The woman who is told she'll wait 2 years for donor sperm insemination — two years of biological time she can't get back.

Why French IVF centres are overwhelmed

The French bioethics law of August 2021 expanded access to IVF to single women and female couples, removing the previous requirement of proven medical infertility. A major social advance — but one that came without a proportional increase in clinical capacity. France's 103 licensed IVF centres absorbed an estimated 30-40% increase in demand without additional resources.

Regional disparities compound the problem. Women in rural areas may face longer travel times and longer waits. The further from a major city, the fewer centres available.

What you can actually do about it

Option 1: Stay in France and optimise your wait. Get your fertility workup completed before your first centre appointment — it can meaningfully shorten the process. Compare waiting times across multiple licensed centres; they vary significantly. Some private licensed centres have shorter timelines than public hospitals.

Option 2: Go to Spain and return to France for follow-up. Most French women who make this choice get a first consultation within 2 to 4 weeks and can start stimulation within the same month. The net cost after CPAM reimbursement is often comparable to the French system.

Option 3: Combine both. Freeze your eggs in Spain now — to protect your biological timeline — and decide later whether to use them there or transfer them back to France.

At WoMA, we believe that knowing your real options — including Spain — shouldn't require months of research on your own. That's why we exist: to help you make an informed, timely decision without pressure.

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