In vitro fertilization. Intrauterine insemination. Donors. Surrogates. Fertility treatments.
These are words that have become more and more common to hear. Infertility has always been a threat to the continuation of the human species. If it is more and more common for women to be unable to get pregnant, not only is it significant to their reproductive health, but it concerns everyone about the future.
CCRM Fertility defines infertility as being unable to get pregnant; for women under 35 years of age, they are considered infertile after one year of unprotected sex, but for women over 35 years old, they are considered infertile after 6 months. In 2016, Premier Health predicted that “by 2025, almost 10 million couples will encounter problems in having a baby.”
It seems as if it is impossible for women to become pregnant naturally anymore— especially in developed regions.
“Infertility rates are rising, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” CCRM Fertility said. “There used to be a worldwide average of 5 children per woman in 1950, but in 2020, that average has fallen to 2 children according to the United Nations.”
So many factors could be blamed for increasing infertility. I believe a combination of too much stress and radiation from electronics are two major reasons.
“Women’s fertility may be impacted by electromagnetic radiation from devices,” Élan Healthcare said. “Studies show reduced ovarian reserve and disrupted hormonal balance due to phone and laptop usage.”
Though an increasingly modern and bustling society is desirable, it may be having unexpected, unintended consequences. Many people debate what the roots of infertility are.
The National Library of Medicine said, “Other aspects of modern society that are thought to impair male and female fertility include a variety of environmental and lifestyle factors (diet, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, exposure to industrial pollutants, electromagnetic radiation, stress, sedentary behavior etc.), many of which are associated with the induction of oxidative stress within the reproductive tract.”
“There are many reasons behind the rise,” Steven Lindheim, MD, of Wright State Physicians Obstetrics & Gynecology said. “Some are related to changes in our society,” Premier Health said. “A few decades ago, most women had their first child at about 21. Today, that age is closer to 26 or 27. Many couples are waiting longer to start their families – they may want to finish their educations first, or get established in their careers. We see a lot more divorce now, too, and remarriages.”
Delayed childbearing could be contributing to rising infertility because it gives women more time to face exposure to environmental toxins and radiation that can harm their reproductive system. It is also known that as women age past their twenties and thirties, the chances that they can become pregnant drop quickly.
“Problems with ovulation are the most common reasons for infertility in women,” Penn Medicine said. “A woman’s age, hormonal imbalances, weight, exposure to chemicals or radiation and cigarette smoking all have an impact on fertility.”
Increased rates of stress in the society we live in today could also be contributing to the problem. The American Psychological Association reports that “Gen Z adults and younger millennials are ‘completely overwhelmed’ by stress.”
Stress is known to get in the way of fertility. “Several recent studies have found links between the women’s levels of day-to-day stress and lowered chances of pregnancy,” WebMD said. “For example, women whose saliva had high levels of alpha-amylase, an enzyme that marks stress, took 29% longer to get pregnant compared to those who had less.
As women wait later and later to have children, the obesity rate grows as well, which could be having an impact on women’s reproductive systems.
“In 2022, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity,” World Health Organization said. “Worldwide adult obesity has more than doubled since 1990, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled.”
The United States is especially facing the health consequences of obesity. This issue can go so far as to contribute to the infertility problem.
“Having a high BMI can harm fertility by inhibiting regular ovulation. Even in women who regularly ovulate, the higher the BMI, the longer it may take to become pregnant,” Mayo Clinic said. “Some research also suggests that a higher BMI is associated with an increased risk of unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF).”
All of these factors causing struggles with getting pregnant for women have led them to seek help. USA Facts said that “one out of every 42 babies born in the US in 2021 was conceived using IVF or other assisted reproductive technology,” and Pew Research Center reported that “a third of U.S. adults say they have used fertility treatments or know someone who has.”
There are hopes for more and more technology to assist women in getting pregnant— but if bodies cannot perform the way they are supposed to, that raises concern about health issues and what is causing them in our society. It also raises the question of modernization and more work in a work-life balance: could these improvements be taking away our ability to reproduce?
