Infertility is a taboo subject in Europe and, unfortunately is on the rise. We have carried out a patient opinion study on the social consideration of infertility in their countries.

This work has involved more than 1,700 patients from 10 European countries and allows us to see the evolution of the data by making a comparison with the previous study we carried out in 2014, in which we asked the same questions to 1,766 patients.

The results were presented at the 36th edition of the Congress of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and I would like to share it with you.

For me, the most important question in the survey would be: Do you think that in your country assisted reproductive treatments are still taboo?

On a European average, 63% of patients with fertility problems live it in an environment of social rejection. Five years earlier 52% expressed this view.

Although 9% of children born are from assisted reproductive treatments, this is still a forbidden topic among too many people.

As you can see, the perception is different in each country according to its laws and its cultural and religious tradition. It also draws attention that the most tolerant countries in 2014 are no longer tolerant now.

In my opinion, infertility is still taboo because male fertility is still associated with virility, because motherhood is still considered as a priority in the women´s social role and because not being able to have children is still seen as a shame more than as a medical condition.

How is this possible? How can it be that, at this point, it is not yet morally accepted by most of society? What do you think? What can we do about it?