Demographics of infertility

The demographic composition of many developed countries threatens their economies and global influence. On the one hand, the increased cost of living and of raising children discourages couples from starting families until later in life while, on the other hand, improved living standards have increased life expectancy. Together, these have resulted in a low total fertility rate and a net increase in the elderly population. The financial and employment protection incentives offered by governments have had relatively little impact on this demographic trend, and a multi-level approach is needed. Governments are, therefore, considering alternatives as part of a so-called ‘population policy mix’. One option is to promote access to assisted reproductive technology for infertile couples. The prevalence of infertility has increased, in part because of general health issues, such as obesity and the rise in sexually transmitted diseases, and also because women are postponing having their first child. Improving accessibility to assisted reproductive technology will relieve the burden of infertility on these couples and may contribute to effectively challenging the problem of low total fertility rates in many developed countries.