I-35: Europe: Declining Fertility Despite IVF

Although fertility rates are falling in many countries, Europe is the continent with the lowest. As men and women choose to have fewer children, total fertility rates in Europe have fallen below replacement levels: for a total fertility rate of 1.5, the rate is around 1.7 children per woman for the cohorts born in 1965. This is due to individual decisions arising from the instability of modern partnerships and the high cost of maintaining a family. These decisions are easy to implement today, with the widespread use of contraception and abortion to reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancy. Government policies have only limited effect on fertility rates, whether they involve cash to families for pregnancy and child support or payments for assisted human reproduction. In contrast, efforts to improve education can achieve better quality of life and higher economic growth at the societal level. Support for education and compatibility of work and family life are probably the strategies most likely to improve prosperity in the long term and enable couples to have the family size they want.This review assesses trends in fertility rates, exploreshealth and social factors, and looks at the impact of health and social interventions designed to boost fertility rates.