Thousands of opponents of controversial bioethics reforms in France have taken to the streets of Paris. They reject a draft law, which would allow single women and lesbian couples access to medically-assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The measure is strongly opposed by some conservative and religious groups, who argue that the law would deprive children of a father. The opponents say that the traditional family is the essential building block of society. 

"It's not normal for me that the state promotes a situation where children can't know who are their parents," said Azalie, a protester from the north of France. Louis, a doctor from the suburbs of Paris, said it was not medicine's role to help those who are not infertile. "Medically-assisted procreation for everybody is something that transgresses natural and human laws," he said.

Their action in Paris on Sunday attracted smaller scale counter protests by LGBT activists who back the new bill, arguing that reproductive treatments should be available to all women.

There are concerns that the debate could re-open social divisions exposed by the same-sex marriage issue, which sparked large and sometimes violent demonstrations by opponents and a spike in homophobic attacks. The violence was widely attributed to far-right groups infiltrating the marches.

Under current law, medically-assisted reproductive treatments are available only to heterosexual couples who are married or can demonstrate that they are in a stable, long-term relationship.

The reform bill has already cleared the national assembly, the lower house of the French parliament and would need to be approved by the senate before becoming law.