France underwent a significant reform of its bioethics law in 2021 (Loi de bioéthique), fundamentally changing the landscape for donor conception and assisted reproduction. The reform extended access to medically assisted procreation (PMA — procréation médicalement assistée) to single women and female same-sex couples, marking a major shift from the previous requirement that only heterosexual couples could access fertility treatment.
Under the 2021 law, all women — single, in a same-sex couple, or in a heterosexual couple — can access PMA in France. The treatment is reimbursed by the French social security system (Sécurité Sociale) under the same conditions as for heterosexual couples, up to age 43 for the woman carrying the pregnancy.
Sperm donation in France is anonymous by law. However, the 2021 reform introduced an important change: donor-conceived children born after September 2022 have the right to access non-identifying information about their donor at age 18, and can request identifying information (name, date of birth, place of birth) if the donor consents. A new national authority (CAPADD) was established to manage these requests.
Egg donation is legal in France and anonymous. The 2021 law extended egg donation to women who have not previously had children — previously this was restricted to women who already had children. Wait times for egg donors in France can be long.
For female same-sex couples, the 2021 law introduced a specific legal mechanism called reconnaissance conjointe anticipée (joint anticipated recognition). Both partners sign a declaration before a notary before the birth, which establishes both women as legal mothers from birth without requiring adoption. This was a significant improvement over the previous system.
Known donor arrangements — where a friend or acquaintance donates sperm outside of a licensed clinic — exist in a legal grey zone in France. French law requires PMA to be performed in an authorised centre. Home insemination is not prohibited per se but has no legal framework, and the known donor may be at risk of being recognised as the legal father.
Co-parenting arrangements between friends or acquaintances are not formally recognised under French family law. Legal parenthood can only be assigned to two people. Additional parenting agreements are not enforceable as such, though private contracts can set out intentions regarding care, time, and expenses.
Single women accessing PMA will be the sole legal parent. There is no legal mechanism for a known sperm donor to waive paternity under French law while also preserving a co-parenting role — the legal system treats these as mutually exclusive.
France prohibits surrogacy (gestation pour autrui), and surrogacy contracts entered into abroad are generally not recognised in France, though the legal situation for the child's parentage is complex and has been the subject of ongoing litigation and European court rulings.
French family law continues to evolve, particularly regarding the rights of children born through assisted reproduction. Families with complex international or co-parenting structures should seek specialist legal advice before making decisions in France.
Join thousands building families on their own terms.
Browse Profiles