It has been a year since the government announced free fertility testing for women during the previous year’s Thessaloniki International Fair, yet the promise remains unfulfilled. “We’re not talking about luxury; we’re talking about the most basic right: knowing whether you have time to become a mother. The state should have acted… yesterday!” This is the voice of a 39-year-old woman, capturing the anxiety of a generation that learned too late—or never at all—about the decline in fertility after age 35. While she fights her own battle, last year’s government pledge for free fertility checks—specifically, free Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) tests for women aged 30–35—remains merely on paper.
“If I had known earlier…”
The 39-year-old artist, with an established career in Greece and abroad, highlights a serious lack of information, limited mostly to contraception topics. There is no education on how individuals—men or women—can plan their life trajectories regarding fertility, she says. “Had I received this information earlier, I would have taken action sooner regarding necessary medical tests. I thought I had time. My gynecologist reassured me: ‘You don’t need to do anything now.’ When I first took the AMH test at 37–38, it turned out my ovarian reserve was already low. If I had tested AMH before 35, I would have made different choices—like freezing my eggs earlier, before turning 35.”
She also sheds light on a common misconception often promoted by media: stories of women having children at 40, 45, or even over 50. Rarely mentioned is that these women usually do not conceive using their own eggs. “They don’t tell us if she got pregnant with her own genetic material. They’re selling assisted reproduction services, not the reality most women face. Information about the AMH test spreads through word of mouth, not official channels. There are no public campaigns or educational tools. It’s as if we’re left to discover on our own that time is running out.”
Professor Michalis Koutsilieris, President of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, confirms the urgency: “Implementation has indeed been delayed. I assume it’s a matter for the Ministry of Health and Finance to include AMH testing among those reimbursed by EOPYY.” He adds: “The AMH test is crucial for women aged 30–40. If they intend to have children, they shouldn’t delay too long. After 40, ovarian reserve is minimal, and women often cannot use their own eggs.”
The Race Against Time
The Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test is a simple blood test measuring AMH levels to assess a woman’s ovarian reserve and fertility. Low levels (<1 ng/ml) indicate reduced egg count, while high levels may suggest Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)—though this doesn’t necessarily mean high ovarian reserve. The test is painless, requires no fasting, and provides insight into egg quantity, not quality. Results must always be interpreted by a doctor. "To use knowledge correctly, you must first have it. You can’t run backwards against time. And yet, that’s exactly what we’re being forced to do," the 39-year-old comments. The Uncovered AMH: Current State of Assisted Reproduction The situation worsens when women turn to assisted reproduction. Currently, EOPYY covers only certain IVF cycles and mainly the cost of ovary stimulation drugs, subject to committee approval. Other procedures, especially at non-contracted clinics, remain fully out-of-pocket, costing thousands of euros—effectively excluding many women and couples from access. Prof. Koutsilieris believes the state should begin subsidizing egg-freezing procedures, both for medical and social reasons: "In countries like Italy and France, the state offers free egg freezing. As a country facing severe demographic challenges, we should consider following suit. In those same countries, mothers also receive monthly allowances of €500–€1,000 until their child turns 18. These are policy decisions tied to national economic capacity and how governments choose to tackle sub-replacement fertility." The 39-year-old adds: "If we truly want to address demographic decline, we need to decide where to invest money right now to support fertility. We need public fertility clinics offering services across all ages, addressing women’s hormonal health. Recent generations, especially in countries hit by economic crises, have delayed childbirth compared to earlier ones. So if we care about partially solving our demographic crisis, this policy should have been implemented YESTERDAY." She concludes: "We’re not asking for favors. We’re asking for the obvious: to know if we have time. Because once you realize it too late, no IVF can give you back the years you’ve lost." Source: iatropedia.gr