Fertility Rates Continue to Fall in England and Wales According to Official Data
World Bank Group data shows that fertility rates across the globe are continuing to fall, having more than halved since 1963. If we look a bit closer to home, the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics on the births in England and Wales shows that 2023 saw the lowest number of births since 1977, with just 591,072 live births recorded. In addition to this, the total fertility rate for England and Wales dropped from 1.49 in 2022 to 1.44 in 2023. The fertility rate is the number of children per woman. This figure is the lowest since records began in 1938. This data supports the continuing declining trend of births in England and Wales. Although in past years, mother’s average age has slowly been increasing, interestingly for 2023, mothers’ average age remained at 30.9 and the average age of fathers increased to 33.8.
Millennials and choices around having children
Why is the fertility rate continuing to fall? It’s a good question (and an important one) but it’s difficult to quantify. Thanks to recent research published by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies (Fertility Intentions And Postponed Parenthood by Dr Alina Pelikh, et al.), we can get some insight. This research reveals some of the challenges that this generation faces in terms of choices around fertility and having children. It analysed answers from over 7,000 32-year old millennials in England who were asked about their plans to start a family or have more children. They found that 54% of respondents had at least one child at the age of 32. Of these individuals who were already parents, 27% said they did want to have another child and 33% definitely did not want more children. When it comes to reasons cited for not feeling ready to have children, 46% said they did not feel ready; 28% said financial reasons; 24% said having not found a suitable partner. This really highlights just how much of a role finances play into decisions about having children. With the current cost of living crisis, this really puts into perspective.
Despite the falling fertility rate and wider social discussions around the choice not to have children, making the decision not to start a family is still largely considered a taboo. Across the media, raising children seems to be a rewarding and socially acceptable thing to do, but the most important thing is to make a choice that is right for you and your life.
The challenges around the increasing age of mothers and trying to get pregnant later in life
Although societal pressure and reasons like finances and not being ready are completely valid reasons for not wanting to conceive yet, the reality is that women are getting pregnant later in life. And so, women will also need to consider the physiological challenges that come with conceiving at an older age. Age is the largest contributing factor in infertility, with age-related fertility decline making it more difficult to conceive naturally.
What is age-related fertility decline?
As women get older, it takes longer to get pregnant naturally because fertility begins to decline. This is called age-related fertility decline. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists state that fertility in women begins to decrease from approximately 32 years of age. Women are born with between 1 and 2 million eggs at birth which deplete over their lifespan. At age 37 this number has reduced to around 25,000 and continues to rapidly decline. By 51 years of age women will have around 1,000 eggs. But it’s not just the numbers of eggs that are pivotal to conception.
Egg quality is also vitally important. Why? Because low quality eggs may have defective chromosomes, which can lead to health conditions for the child such as Down Syndrome. According to the Patient website, at age 30, the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome is 1 in 800. When women reach age 35, this increases significantly to 1 in 270, and again to 1 in 100 at age 40. And it’s not just women – men’s sperm quality decreases with age too, and can also contribute to increased risk of Down Syndrome. Poor egg quality can also lead to issues with implantation in the uterus and development of the embryo, resulting in miscarriage.
Although the majority of women will have healthy pregnancies it is important to take into consideration some of the complications that can arise during pregnancy itself; older women have a much higher risk of pre-eclampsia, stillbirth, and other pregnancy complications, making it a riskier experience for both baby and mother.
What can you do if you are concerned about your fertility but aren’t ready to start a family?
Not sure about whether you’re ready or not to start a family but would like to ensure that you’re in the best possible place for it if you do decide to go ahead? The most important thing you can do is to be aware of your fertility and take steps to preserve it where possible.
Many individuals and couples who are unsure whether they want to have children or are not yet ready to have children choose to freeze their eggs and sperm in order to use them later in life. Many people see egg freezing as a kind of insurance for getting pregnant when they are older, however as with any medical treatment, it is not a guarantee. That being said, egg freezing has reasonably good success rates. It is more successful to use eggs that have been frozen at an earlier age than to use fresh eggs when you are older. This is because egg quality when you are younger is significantly better.
The first step in protecting your fertility for later in life is to seek advice from a fertility doctor. A fertility clinic in London is a great place to start. After a consultation where you will discuss your fertility goals, your consultant may suggest a series of fertility tests to get an understanding of your current fertility levels. They will then be able to advise you on the most appropriate route forward based on your goals. We wish you the best of luck on your fertility journey.
