[What are the factors affecting fertility in 2008?]

The number of infertile couples to be cared for in infertility centres is estimated to be between 1 to 6 %. This figure has been rising over the past years. During the 24th annual meeting of the ESHRE (European society of Human Reproduction) in Barcelona, changes in the population of infertile couples have been analysed. The major trend is an increase in women's age but also in men's age when desiring their first child. This mean rise has reached more than two years for women's age, over the past 10 years. The negative influence of the woman's age on fertility, especially after 35 years, is clearly established. However, new data in men suggest that an age higher than 35 years could be linked to an increased rate of miscarriages. The concept of preconceptionnal care in order to detect comorbidities, especially smoking, overweight and diabetes has been emphasized. Furthermore, the influence of current lifestyles on fertility, a potential role of endocrine disrupters, represent new concerns, which are in line with a policy of preventive care of infertility. Lastly, patients undergoing treatment with gonadotoxic drugs represent a 'new" population in fertility clinics. Techniques of testicular and ovarian preservation, especially frozen oocytes, must be disseminated and improved in order to prevent infertility in those patients.