Fertility Europe is the Pan-European organisation representing patients’ associations dedicated to infertility, enabling a network for those concerned with fertility problems, patient empowerment, engaging other stakeholders and the media.
It is our aim to:
Fertility Europe has three main goals, to:
last update: July 2024
Get in touch with them regarding any questions about fertility issues and treatment options etc. in the country concerned.
Klaudija Kordic (Croatia), Chairperson
Irina Popova (Bulgaria), Vice-chairperson
Maciej Śmiechowski (Poland), Secretary
Afroditi Alexopoulou (Greece), Treasurer
Karianne Bye (Norway), Executive Committee member
Ofra Balaban-Kasztelanski (Israel)
Christina Fadler (Austria)
Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen (general administration)
Monika Bulmanska-Wingett (communications)
Anita Fincham (advocacy)
For the first time in 2023, we embarked on an exciting new journey by planning our annual activities and projects around a single, preselected topic. This is the essence of our annual theme initiative. Our goal is to explore this subject in exhaustive detail, diving into every facet and uncovering its many layers.
Focusing our efforts on a single theme each year ensures a greater depth of understanding and a more significant impact. Join us as we journey through this year’s theme, unlocking knowledge and driving meaningful change together.
This year, we are proud to spotlight Fertility Awareness and Public Information as our central theme.
Fertility awareness is about empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and future. Public access to accurate and evidence-based information plays a vital role in helping people understand their fertility, from how it changes over time to factors that influence it. By raising awareness, we aim to:
Through this initiative, we aspire to ensure that fertility knowledge is not just accessible but also inclusive and relatable for everyone. Our ambition is to create a future where informed choices lead to empowered lives.
Stay tuned for events, campaigns, and resources coming your way as part of this year’s theme!
This year, we will explore the expanding landscape of gamete donation treatments and the critical importance of proper regulations in this matter. Our commitment to this theme will be reflected in various events throughout the year.
– ESHRE Congress in Amsterdam: Join us for a dedicated patient session where we will walk you through the meanders of gamete donation from various perspectives.
– European Fertility Week (EFW): our annual campaign focused on raising awareness and educating this year will be dedicated to gamete donation.
In preparation for this year’s European Fertility Week (EFW), we have created a survey on gamete donation. It aims to gather data to help understand patients’ preferences, views and concerns around gamete donation. We hope this insight will not only provide valuable content that we will present during the EFW2024 but will also in a longer perspective allow for shaping a good legal framework around gamete donation treatments.
Taking all the above into account, we encourage all who have experienced infertility to take part in our survey by clicking on the photo.
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) is the official partner of Fertility Europe in all major projects.
ESHRE’s main aim is to promote interest in, and understanding of reproductive biology and medicine through facilitating and disseminating research findings in human reproduction and embryology to the general public, scientists, clinicians and patient associations.
At ESHRE’s Annual Meeting the ESHRE charity run is held which benefits Fertility Europe.
European Patients Forum is the umbrella organisation of pan-European patient organisations active in the field of European public health and health advocacy. EPF’s vision is high quality, patient-centred, equitable healthcare for all patients in EU.
The membership of Fertility Europe in EPF provides us with greater awareness of EU health related projects and policies and builds a stronger patients’ voice at EU level.
EPF Patient Empowerment Campaign – Official video
Thanks to our partners for enabling Fertility Europe to do our work!
Fertility Europe was founded in 2008-2009 by the following six organisations:
All these organisations expressed their wish to be an effective member of the newly established democratic association and filled out the questionnaire with detailed information about fertility issues, statistics and about regulation of fertility/infertility treatment in their country and reimbursement system.
It is the utmost wish and intent of Fertility Europe to be an independent, relevant and transparent association, dedicated to the needs and rights of those having difficulty conceiving and active in the field of prevention and responsible approach to health. We dedicate our work to them according to the highest code of ethical conduct.
| Geertrui De Cock | Chair |
| Denisa Priadková | Vice Chair |
| Clare Lewis-Jones | Member |
| José van der Schoor-Knijnenburg | Member |
| Conrad Engler | Secretary |
The Foundation Committee was in charge until the first official election of the Executive Committee of Fertility Europe had taken place at the First Council Meeting in June 2009 in Amsterdam.
The spring meeting took place in Vienna, Austria in 2010 where 10 new candidates applied for Fertility Europe membership. During the 2nd Council meeting in Rome in June 2010, the members of the Executive Committee and their roles were as follows:
| Clare Lewis-Jones | Chair |
| Denisa Priadková | Vice Chair |
| Conrad Engler | Treasurer |
| Annalisa Malfatti | Secretary |
| José Knijnenburg | Member |
According to under Art. 9 and 13 of the Statutes, Appointment and discharge of the Members of the Executive Committee, Annalisa Malfatti resigned and Randi Ramnefjell who was the next person with most votes after the voting in Amsterdam was appointed.
During the 3rd Council meeting in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011, the members of the Executive Committee and their roles were as follows:
| Clare Lewis-Jones | Chair |
| Denisa Priadková | Vice Chair |
| Conrad Engler | Treasurer |
| José Knijnenburg | Member |
| Randi Ramnefjell | Secretary |
During the 4th Council meeting in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey new elections for Executive Committee took place.
| Clare Lewis-Jones | Chair |
| Denisa Priadková | Vice Chair |
| Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen | Treasurer |
| Alina Beatris David | Member |
| Elín Einarsdóttir | Secretary |
The 5th Council meeting took place in London, United Kingdom in 2013 and the 6th Council meeting was held in Munich, Germany in 2014.
During the 7th Council meeting in 2015 in Lisbon, Portugal new elections for Executive Committee took place. New positions of two Deputy Members were implemented.
| Elín Einarsdóttir | Chair |
| Nicoleta Cristea-Brunel | Vice Chair |
| Afroditi Alexopoulou | Treasurer |
| Denisa Priadková | Secretary |
| Isabelle Chandler | Member |
| Ofra Balaban | Deputy |
On 17.03.2016, during the spring meeting in Sofia, Denisa Priadková was revoked from the Executive Committee under article 13.2 of the Statutes, and Ofra Balaban stepped in.
During the 8th Council meeting in Helsinki members voted on Elections of two Deputy Executive Committee members. Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen and Klaudija Kordic got the majority of the votes. Later, in September 2016, the Vice Chair Nicoleta Cristea-Brunel resigned, Klaudija Kordic declined to step in, and so Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen stepped in the Executive Committee. Irina Popova was 3rd during the voting for Deputies, so she became one. Isabelle Chandler resigned in November 2016 so Klaudija Kordic stepped in. Elín Einarsdóttir stepped down as the Chair in November 2016 and started as the Vice-chair. Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen was elected as the new Chair.
New Office Manager Anita Fincham started at the beginning of 2017. A supplemental election was performed in Geneva in July 2017 to have a second Deputy and Iwona Komenda was elected. The members of the Executive Committee and their roles after summer 2017 were as follows:
| Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen | Chair |
| Elín Einarsdóttir | Vice Chair |
| Afroditi Alexopoulou | Treasurer |
| Klaudija Kordic | Secretary |
| Ofra Balaban | Member |
| Irina Popova | Deputy |
| Iwona Komenda | Deputy |
| Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen | Chair |
| Klaudija Kordic | Vice Chair |
| Afroditi Alexopoulou | Treasurer |
| Irina Popova | Secretary |
| Karianne Bye | Member |
| Ofra Balaban | Deputy |
| Iwona Komenda | Deputy until 03/2022 |
| Patrizia Ricciardone | Deputy from 03/2022 to 07/2022 |
| Klaudija Kordic | Chair |
| Irina Popova | Vice Chair |
| Afroditi Alexopoulou | Treasurer |
| Maciej Śmiechowski | Secretary |
| Sandrine Dumont | Member until 06/2023 |
| Karianne Bye | Deputy until 06/2023 and then Member |
| Ofra Balaban | Deputy |
| Christina Fadler | Deputy from 10/2023 |
Fertility Europe awards Honorary membership to individuals whose work or service has been particularly significant. Honorary memberships are decided by the Executive Committee of Fertility Europe.
CLARE LEWIS-JONES, MBE
As the representative of Infertility Network UK and More to life associations, Clare has been one of the founding members and driving force of Fertility Europe in 2009. Clare served as Fertility Europe’s first Chair for six years (2009-2015) bringing with her a wealth of experience in organisational work. With her long expertise of nearly 30 years in the field of infertility, Clare led the association to rapid growth and put all her knowledge and skills for the benefit of our association.
Clare Lewis-Jones was awarded MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to health in 2009.
She stepped down as the Chair of Fertility Europe in 2015, was nominated as Fertility Europe’s first Honorary Lifetime Member in 2016 and is now enjoying well-earned retirement but is still following Fertility Europe as our long time friend and colleague.
JOSÈ KNIJNENBURG
Josè Knijnenburg’s association Freya was also one of the founding members of Fertility Europe in 2009. She has a long experience in the Dutch fertility association and very kindly shared and implemented that knowledge with Fertility Europe and our members.
Josè was an Executive Committee member between 2009-2012 and continued after that many years as a volunteer. She was in the Communication Working Group and for example responsible of the Fertility Europe website as an administrator. We thank Jose for more than ten years of selfless volunteer work for the benefit of all those experiencing infertility in Europe.
This recognition was awarded to her in summer 2024.
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