Recent data from the National Survey of Family Growth reveals a concerning trend: the percentage of married American women under 50 experiencing infertility has increased over the last decade. Between 2011 and 2019, infertility rates in this group rose from 6.7% to 8.7%, according to government statistics.
The study, co-authored by Colleen Nugent and Anjani Chandra of the National Center for Health Statistics was published in a National Health Statistics Report on April 24.
The researchers examined over 21,000 interviews with women and men aged 15 to 49. Infertility was defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy despite having unprotected intercourse regularly over the course of a year with the same partner.
Researchers also explored “impaired fecundity,” a broader category encompassing difficulties in conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. Rates of impaired fecundity remained relatively stable, affecting about 16% of married women aged 15 to 44 by 2019.
While the research did not pinpoint specific causes for the increase in infertility rates, it highlights a significant rise in reproductive challenges faced by young couples today.
The report suggests that by 2019, over 8.5 million American women in their reproductive age faced fertility issues.
Among men, infertility rates also saw a slight increase, from 11.4% to 12.8% between the 2011-2015 and 2015-2019 survey periods. Notably, vasectomies accounted for a large proportion of male infertility, particularly in older age groups. For men aged 45 to 49, the vasectomy rate was as high as 40.5%.
The findings stress that not all surveyed individuals viewed the inability to have children as a medical concern.
“An individual or couple can remain infertile or fulfill the definition for impaired fecundity for years after they have stopped trying to have a child or they may not wish to have a child at all,” explained Chandra and Nugent.
As this issue continues to evolve, it remains a critical area for public health focus. It’s imperative to safeguard American family planning and reproductive health.