The +Fertility Movement has called on the Portuguese government to establish counseling consultations in health centers specifically for individuals between the ages of 20 and 35. Additionally, the group is advocating for maximum response times in Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) services that are adjusted according to age. These proposals form part of a broader set of 15 strategic recommendations organized into three pillars: Literacy, Work, and Access, designed to urgently improve information, work-life balance, and access to fertility care.
The recommendations were announced at the start of Fertility Week, which runs from November 2 to November 8. They are based on a comparative analysis of policies across various European countries. The movement, which includes the Portuguese Society of Reproductive Medicine, the Portuguese Fertility Association, and the Reproductive Medicine subspecialty of the Medical Order, aims to address Portugal's demographic challenges by helping young people have children within their biological window.
Key measures include a mandatory revision of curricula from basic education through university to integrate health and planning modules. These modules would cover topics such as the biological window, male fertility, and the impact of lifestyle choices. The movement also calls for increased digital campaigns with medical validation and a permanent institutional presence on social media to demystify assisted reproduction technologies for older age groups.
Regarding access to treatment, the group suggests full reimbursement for three to six treatment cycles, guaranteed public co-payment for a second child, and 100% coverage for gamete donation. To eliminate the impact of waiting lists during the critical biological window, they propose a voucher system allowing patients to choose between public and private sectors. Furthermore, the movement recommends expanding fertility preservation funding to non-oncological conditions, such as endometriosis and early menopause risk, alongside reforming restrictive laws concerning embryos and donation.
On the economic front, the recommendations include creating incentives for companies that support parenthood and family care. The group advocates replacing one-time financial aids at birth with direct and lasting tax deductions specifically for a second child. They also call for critical investment in nurseries to ensure access to quality public institutions from the first year of life with maximum cost limits, similar to the Swedish model. Additionally, they propose legal flexibility allowing any parent to reduce their working hours by up to 20% without the possibility of employer refusal.
These proposals were released alongside the FutURe 2026 barometer, a survey conducted by Merk among 1,200 people in Portugal aged 18 to 34. The study reveals that nearly seven out of ten young people admit they would change their plans to have children if they had to care for a family member in the future, with 30% stating they would delay the decision. Currently, 1.2% of respondents already care for a relative, while 43.3% consider it likely and 30.3% very likely, primarily regarding caring for parents.
The data indicates that more than eight out of ten young people prefer to secure financial stability before having children. More than half of the respondents cited financial instability as the main reason for delaying parenthood. Furthermore, access to housing is viewed by 35.9% as the main challenge Portugal faces in the next 20 years, followed by population aging at 26%, mental health at 8.3%, and low birth rates at 8.2%.
Sources: Observador.