Global Fertility Crisis: 54 Million Women Cannot Conceive

As Daily Mail writes, researchers from Chongqing Medical University analyzed medical data from 204 countries for the period from 1990 to 2023 to assess how the "burden of infertility" among women aged 35 to 49 changed over time. Infertility was defined as the inability to achieve a clinically confirmed pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.

Researchers note that the infertility rate in this age group increased from approximately 6001 cases per 100,000 women in 1990 to 6907 cases per 100,000 in 2023.

According to calculations, in 2023, there were approximately 53.6 million women worldwide aged 35 to 49 who met this criterion. If the current trend continues, their number could increase to 79.6 million by 2036.

For the analysis, women were divided into three age groups: 35–39, 40–44, and 45–49 years. Growth is projected for all three groups, but it will be fastest among women aged 35–39.

The authors emphasize that this does not mean that women in their late thirties have a higher probability of infertility than women over forty. Fertility naturally continues to decline with age due to a decrease in the number and quality of eggs. The obtained result indicates something else: it is in the younger part of this age group that the overall number of infertility cases is increasing most rapidly.

What are the causes?

According to researchers, one of the main reasons is that more women are delaying childbirth until their late thirties or later, focusing on education and professional careers. However, by the time they feel ready to start a family, their reproductive capacity may have significantly decreased.

The study authors also note that obesity and stress can affect fertility. Another reason may be the expanded access to diagnostics and assisted reproductive technologies, thanks to which more women seek medical help, and infertility cases are more frequently detected.

The problem of infertility is evident not only in poor countries. Data show a shift towards high-income countries and more developed nations, which is likely explained by late motherhood, population aging, and changing reproductive patterns.

Nevertheless, women in low-income regions still face significant obstacles, especially because infertility testing and treatment are often difficult to access there.

According to 2023 data, the highest infertility rates among women aged 35-49 were observed in East Asia, and the lowest in Australia and New Zealand. Among individual countries, the Central African Republic was the leader in this indicator, while the lowest value was recorded in Nepal.

Scientists emphasize that infertility cannot be viewed solely as a medical diagnosis. It is a complex problem that entails psychological trauma, stigmatization, significant costs for examination and treatment, and relationship strain. At the state level, this leads to accelerated population aging and a reduction in the number of working-age citizens.

In this regard, experts insist on the need to revise healthcare priorities: fertility support, early problem detection, and expanded access to medical care should become an important part of public policy worldwide.

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