A new study projects that by 2036, the number of women affected by infertility worldwide will reach nearly 80 million, approximately 1.5 times higher than in 2023, primarily due to delayed childbearing.
According to the study, published in The Lancet, infertility rates have been rising in recent years, particularly among women aged 35 to 49.
By 2036, the number of infertility cases in this age group is expected to approach 80 million, up sharply from approximately 53.6 million in 2023. The most significant increase is projected among women aged 35–39.
The researchers attribute this trend mainly to the age-related decline in both the quantity and quality of eggs, which reduces fertility, increases the risk of miscarriage, and lowers the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), Euronews reports.
"As population ageing accelerates and socioeconomic transitions continue, the number of women facing age-related infertility is increasing, making this an increasingly important public health issue," the study authors wrote.
Analyzing data from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study, which covered 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, Chinese researchers found that infertility rates have risen most rapidly in more developed countries.
In many middle-income and rapidly developing nations, infertility has become more common due to the combined effects of multiple social and demographic changes.
People are marrying later and postponing parenthood. More women in their thirties and forties are trying to conceive, while growing awareness of fertility issues has led an increasing number of couples to seek medical assistance.
However, in many of these countries, infertility diagnosis and treatment remain expensive, underdeveloped, or difficult to access. As a result, demand for fertility services is growing much faster than healthcare systems can meet it.
According to reproductive health biologist and expert Rocío Núñez Calonge, who was not involved in the study, the rise in infertility among older women cannot be addressed solely by expanding access to assisted reproductive technologies.
"In countries such as Spain, it is also essential to address the social factors that lead people to postpone motherhood, particularly those related to work-life balance, economic stability, and institutional support for earlier parenthood," she said.
Infertility is not solely a women's health issue. It is estimated that around one in six people worldwide experience infertility at some point in their lives, while 8–12% of couples of reproductive age globally face difficulties conceiving.
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