President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday, December 9, 2022 that France will make condoms free in pharmacies for anyone aged 18 up to age 25. This initiative starts on January 1, 2023.

The government says sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise among young people, and this year’s exceptional inflation is cutting especially deeply into the budgets of France’s poorest citizens.

Girls and women aged 25 and under already have access to free birth control in France as part of government efforts to ensure that young people of all incomes can prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Existing measures do not apply to men, however, or specifically address access for transgender or non-binary people.

The President agreed to expand the program after some people challenged him on social networks over why the condom measure did not include minors.

“Let’s do it,” Macron said in a selfie video that he shot from the sidelines of a summit in Spain.

Macron later tweeted, “A lot of minors also have sex … they need to protect themselves too.”

Macron, who became France’s youngest-ever President when he was first elected in 2017 at age 39, also promised improved efforts to prevent and test for HIV and other sexually transmitted viruses.

France’s State Health Care System Does Not Cover All Birth Control Costs

France’s state health care system covers some birth control costs but not all, and doctor appointments for low-income patients often require long waits.

Nonetheless, Abortions in France are available for everyone.

Abortions are free in France for anyone covered under the French healthcare system. Just as the French healthcare system covers costs related to prenatal care and birth, having an abortion up to the legal 14-week limit (and longer, in some cases) is free in France.

Abortion is legal in many countries. Such of these countries is Spain. It is allowed up until the 14th week of pregnancy.

Several other European countries offer free or subsidized contraception.