Free condoms: why this measure applies to young people between the ages of 18 and 25

“In pharmacies, condoms will be free for young people between the ages of 18 and 25” in 2023, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, announced on Thursday. This unexpected announcement comes against a backdrop of a resurgence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in France and should facilitate access to this protection.

“The condom remains the most widely used protection tool, however a continuous decline in its use is observed,” Public Health France wrote in an epidemiological bulletin at the end of November.

The surprise announcement by the President of the Republic was well received, although the terms of its implementation are still being discussed and the first questions arise.

“Something is missing from this ad because it seems to me so essential to address minors as a priority,” presenter Christophe Dechavanne, owner of the “Sortez Covered” condom brand, told BFMTV on Thursday. He still calls this move “formidable.”

“The average age of first sexual intercourse in France is 17 years”

In fact, those under the age of 18 are also affected by STIs, as Public Health France pointed out in a December 2020 report, highlighting, for example, an increase in gonorrhea and chlamydia cases between 2017 and 2019.

For this last STI, the “progression is more marked in women from 15 to 24 years (+41%) and in men (+38%), especially in those from 15 to 29 years (+45%)”, writes SPF. In 2020, the first year of the covid pandemic, cases fell, mainly because testing was reduced.

“We don’t have the figures for 2021 yet, but we don’t expect a decline. In the best of cases, a stabilization”, Pr. Cécile Bébéar, head of the National Reference Center for Bacterial STIs, had told AFP in mid-October.

Questioned by BFMTV.com, she applauds Emmanuel Macron’s ad and recalls that “the average age of first sexual intercourse in France is 17 years”, and that therefore it is not inconsistent to benefit only 18-25 from this free. She adds that STIs circulate much more among those over 18 years of age, but also a lot after 25 years of age.

“People who discovered their HIV status in 2021 had an average age of 37 years according to the latest data from Public Health France, of which 15% were under 25 years of age,” Marc-Antoine Bartoli, coordinator, reminds BFMTV.com of prevention. at Actup Paris.

It also notes that in 2021 the‘the median age of those affected by chlamydial infection was 23 years. The median age of people infected with gonorrhea was 27 years, and young people under 26 still account for 42% of cases.

“A period in which we observe more breaks in contraception”

The 18-25 age group is, in fact, “a period where we see more breaks in contraception,” Sarah Durocher, co-chair of Family Planning, told BFMTV.com. This is partly due to the lack of means of people of this age, such as students, “it is a time when we are poorer.”

“Minors have even less money than 25-year-olds,” Christophe Dechavanne also declares.

Other measures of this type already affect those under 26 years of age, such as free contraception for women. But this also applies to minors. This free “is motivated by the decrease in the use of contraceptive methods, often linked to financial reasons,” explains the Public Service site.

Since December 2018, to fight against AIDS and STIs, Social Security has already reimbursed condoms with a doctor’s or midwife’s prescription. But this device is still unknown: only 21% of minors and 29% of those aged 18 to 24 know about it, according to the Élysée.

“Take into account the sexuality of secondary school minors”

Emmanuel Macron nevertheless mentioned the case of adolescents on Thursday, recalling that “on the sexual health” of young people, “we have a real issue”. In particular, he mentioned the vaccination of adolescents -girls and boys- against papillomavirus infections, linked to the appearance of various types of cancer.

“It is a huge job of information. We have to go back to school, we have to multiply, and we are going to make this investment,” she pleaded. As for sex education, “we are not good at this issue. The reality is very, very far from the theory. We must reform our teachers much better on this issue, we must create awareness, ”argued the head of the State.

Marc-Antoine Bartoli also supports the need to “take take into account the sexuality of minors from secondary school, and if it is possible to start talking about it from primary school with the appropriate tools”.

It is necessary to “train teachers, accompany young people – minors, adolescents and young adults – so as not to leave them in ignorance and fear, it is important.”

“One of the big issues is the health of young people, of adolescents,” said the Minister of Health, François Braun, questioned this Friday on BFMTV about free condoms. He also recalled that STIs can have a serious impact on health and “are a major cause of infertility.”

These sexually transmitted infections “have a direct impact on sexual and reproductive health through stigma, infertility, cancer, and pregnancy complications, and may increase the risk of contracting HIV,” writes the World Health Organization.

What are the modalities of this measure?

Respondents recall that the free distribution of condoms is not a novelty. Free information and detection centers, family planning “and associations to fight HIV-AIDS and STIs distribute condoms free of charge throughout the year and to everyone”, highlights Marc-Antoine Bartoli.

Sarah Durocher also regrets that the associations that already distributed these protections for free are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain them for free: “It is becoming more and more difficult. The associations that can buy them, but for the others it is more difficult.” “. She still welcomes Emmanuel Macron’s announcement as “a positive thing” and hopes to hear more about its implementation.

If to obtain these free condoms “the Vitale card is necessary, this can represent a brake for some”, he declares.

According to the explanations of the Minister of Health, it will not necessarily be a question of giving free condoms to young people between 18 and 25 years of age, but of a “100% reimbursement by social security, we are in the process of seeing how we adapt” . the formula. Currently “it is possible with a prescription, we will do it without a prescription,” she said.