The French government introduces free contraception for all young women

The French government has decided to introduce free contraception for all women under the age of 25. It will cost the state coffers 21 million euros a year. The measure aims to equalize access to contraception and reduce abortion rates for young women. "Some young women are stopping using contraception, especially for financial reasons," French Health Minister Olivier Véran told France 2 when he introduced the new measure. "It is unbearable that women cannot protect themselves and do not have access to contraception if they want it because it is too expensive," the minister added. Young women will also have all medical care related to prescribing contraception free of charge. The age limit was set at 25, because it is a time when people become independent and gain economic, social and income independence, the minister explained. Until now, French girls aged 15 to 18 were entitled to free contraception. This 2013 measure has proved its worth in France. It has led to a reduction in the rate of voluntary terminations from 9.5 abortions per thousand pregnancies in 2012 to six abortions per thousand pregnancies now. Since last year, even French women under the age of 15 have been free of charge for contraception. Even in this case, the government justified the measures by the high rate of voluntary abortions. In France, about a thousand girls between the ages of 12 and 14 get pregnant every year, and 770 of these pregnancies end in abortion. Moving the age of free contraception to 25 is inherently unique in Europe. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Norway and Portugal have free contraception for women under 19.