Is infertility on the rise? The high chances of having a baby
Infertility: a growing concern?
Human beings are among the least fertile of any species on earth. About 1 in 10 couples experiences difficulties getting pregnant within 12 months.1 And yet amazingly here we all are, giving rise to optimism!
From the 1960s until the 1980s, the incidence of primary infertility increased in many Western countries. It’s widely believed that this was caused by an increase in the incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease in women, which causes damage to the fallopian tubes.
During the 1980s, the percentage of couples with primary infertility was relatively stable. However, the number of women reaching reproductive age increased. This meant that there were considerably more infertile couples in the late 1980s than there were at the beginning of the decade.
Since then, the birth rate in Western countries has fallen considerably. In part, this is due to couples postponing pregnancy, or deciding not to have children because of social factors.
At the same time, the number of women over the age of 35 giving birth for the first time has more than doubled. This is despite the fact that fertility begins to decline in women of the same age, quite rapidly.2
What may at first seem a contradiction can be explained by:
- Women postponing pregnancy for career considerations or other factors.
- An increase in the female population aged 35 to 49.
- The trend towards smaller, later families.
- Advances in reproductive technology.
Is there a reason to be optimistic?
Sterility is rare. In a large UK survey only 2.4% of women aged 40–55 years reported unresolved infertility with no pregnancies over their reproductive years. Further 1.9% never gave birth despite achieving pregnancy.3 For most couples, expectations of a successful pregnancy are realised even if a little help is needed along the way.
| Sometimes couples give up their dreams of having a baby before allowing enough time for their fertility treatment to work. The psychological burden of their conception difficulties can become too great. Learning to cope with stress is an important step towards making sure that you and your partner achieve your goal. |
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1. Boivin J et al, International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod. 2007;22: 1506-1512. 2. Aging and infertility in women: a committee opinion Fertil Steril 2002;78:215-219. 3. Oakley L et al. Lifetime prevalence of infertility and infertility treatment in the UK: results from a population-based survey of reproduction. Hum Reprod 2008;23(2):447-450.
