On 16 September 2026, the European Parliament adopted its own-initiative (INI) report on Gender Inequalities in Health, Specifically as Regards Gender-Specific Conditions, led by rapporteur MEP Billy Kelleher. The Coalition for Fertility welcomes the prominent place given to fertility in the report and is glad to see several of the points it raised during the drafting process reflected in the adopted text.
The report recognises that one in six people globally face infertility, translating to roughly 25 million EU citizens, and acknowledges the disproportionate burden of fertility treatments that women experience. It names fertility care as a fundamental pillar of gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights together with contraception and comprehensive sexuality education.
MEPs called on the Commission and Member States to fund evidence-based public information campaigns on fertility and reproductive health, and to ensure that online health content is not wrongly flagged as inappropriate.
The text also highlights the risks posed by harmful chemical exposures to fertility, and urges equitable, timely access to fertility and miscarriage-related healthcare, including diagnosis, treatment and mental health support, regardless of financial situation, family status or disability.
The report further recognises menopause and endometriosis as significant public health issues requiring better integration into primary healthcare, workplace policy and EU-funded research, including a call for an EU-wide action plan specifically on endometriosis.
The Coalition for Fertility welcomes this report as a meaningful step toward EU-level recognition of fertility as a public health and equality priority, and looks forward to working with Parliament and the Commission to see these calls translated into concrete action.
