The ESHRE Congress 2025 in Paris was nothing short of inspiring, and we were proud to be at the heart of it all. From educational sessions to important and energising policy discussions, reconnecting with members to strengthening partnerships – this year’s congress truly reflected our shared mission: collaboration, inclusion, and impact.
Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from those unforgettable few days.
The congress kicked off with Pre-Congress Courses, setting the tone for in-depth learning. ESHRE kindly offered 5 free tickets to Fertility Europe’s members to attend a PCC of their choice. What a treat! Later that evening, the Opening Ceremony brought everyone together in celebration, officially launching ESHRE2025 with energy and elegance. We were both delighted and honoured to learn that our ongoing partnership with ESHRE was mentioned during the opening speech by Karen Sermon, the ESHRE chair.
Together Again. Fertility Europe Annual General Meeting
We were thrilled to welcome our members in person and online for the Fertility Europe Annual General Meeting (AGM). It was a moment of reflection and renewal, as we reviewed our achievements and plans, and elected a new Executive Committee (ExCo) to lead us forward. The new ExCo, elected from 10 amazing candidates, consists of the following:
- Maciej Smiechowski, Poland – Chair
- Irina Popova, Bulgaria – Vice-Chair
- Afroditi Alexopoulou, Greece – Treasurer
- Bojana Santic, Croatia – Secretary
- Christina Fadler, Austria – ExCo Members
- Nicole Brunel, Romania – Deputy
- Despina Petrovska, North Macedonia – Deputy
Congratulations to our new Executive Committee members! With such a strong team to lead our organisation, we see Fertility Europe’s future bright!
We would also like to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to our outgoing Executive Committee members – Klaudija Kordic, Karianne Bye, and Ofra Balaban-Kasztelanski – for their tireless work, unwavering commitment, and invaluable contributions to Fertility Europe and the whole community over the years. Your passion, leadership, and dedication have helped shape our organisation and inspired so many along the way. It is truly hard to see you go, and you will be deeply missed. We wish you all the very best in your new endeavours and are certain that whatever paths you pursue next, you will continue to thrive and make a difference – as you always have!
We also had the genuine pleasure to officially welcome 4 new Fertility Europe member associations:
- IVFka, Czechia
- Patientforeningen Fertilitet og Tab, Denmark
- UIK, Germany
- Mitrotita, Greece
All the new members were unanimously approved by the Council to became part of our community.
Thank you to everyone who participated and engaged in shaping our future!
A Whirlwind of Wonderful
Over those few days at ESHRE, we found ourselves immersed in a vibrant mix of events and meaningful interactions. We explored, connected, and participated actively, learning from others while also sharing our own knowledge. In every moment, we both gave and gained, making this busy period not just full, but fulfilling.
Poster Highlights: Atlas & FActs!
- Our European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies was showcased as poster P-357 and featured in the Ethics & Law Poster Discussion Session, with Anita Fincham presenting key policy insights and answering questions from a highly engaged audience.
- Our second poster featured findings from FActs! – the serious educational game, highlighting the state of fertility awareness among young people across Europe. It drew significant interest and sparked thoughtful conversations on fertility education strategies.
Patient Session – Raising Fertility Awareness: The Importance of Informed Choices.
Our flagship Patient Session (Invited Session 28) drew a fantastic turnout. Under the title “Raising Fertility Awareness: The Importance of Informed Choices”, three inspiring speakers delivered talks that moved and motivated:
- Dr. Mariana Veloso Martins, Ph.D., University of Porto, Portugal – “Fertility literacy in action: design and pilot results from the FActs! serious game in Europe.” presented results from the FActs! project.
- Irina Popova, Vice-Chair of Fertility Europe, Bulgaria in “Focus on next generation: promoting informed choices and reproductive health through an innovative digital educational platform,” highlighted our digital fertility awareness efforts.
- Beate Mühroth, Unterstützungsnetzwerk Infertilität und Kinderwunsch (UIK), Germany, shared her personal story with honesty and hope in her talk “Too young to worry? My fertility journey.”
The session sparked conversations that carried on well beyond the room.
Merck Symposium: Fertility Forward
We were honoured to be part of the Merck Fertility Access and Policy Symposium titled “Fertility Forward: Uniting for Equitable ART Access”, where Anita Fincham presented “Breaking Barriers: The Imperative of Equal Access to Fertility Treatment”. Her talk powerfully addressed global disparities in MAR access and underscored the need for policy change. This event is available to watch on demand. Please follow THIS LINK to access it.
Meeting the ESHRE Chairs
It has become a valued tradition to meet with the ESHRE Chairs during each ESHRE Congress, and this year in Paris was no different. We were proud to present our ongoing and upcoming initiatives and projects, share our progress, and engage in open, constructive dialogue with our esteemed partners. As always, the exchange was warm, productive, and forward-looking. And of course, we wrapped it up with our now-traditional group photo to mark the moment!
The Hosts with the Most!
Our Fertility Europe booth (B005) was buzzing throughout the congress, serving as a hub for information, conversation, and connection. From patient advocates to healthcare professionals and researchers, we were thrilled to meet so many of you and share the breadth of our work.
Days to Remember
ESHRE 2025 was more than just a meeting. It was a reaffirmation of why we do what we do – together. The dedication of our members, the strength of our shared advocacy and expertise, and the energy of being side by side again were unforgettable.
Thank you to everyone who made this event a success – our members, volunteers, speakers, partners, and friends. We are proud of what we achieved together and look forward to continuing the momentum.
And last but certainly not least, we extend our heartfelt thanks to ESHRE for being such a fantastic and longstanding partner. Your continued support, interest in our undertakings, and collaboration make all the difference, and we are truly grateful for all that.