Experts warn of rise in infertility levels in future generations

London, Feb 15 : Experts have warned that infertility levels may rise in the generations to come.

While writing in British Medical Journal, experts have said that that infertility levels may rise in the future generations due to increase in the use of assisted reproductive techniques.

About 6pct of children are conceived through assisted reproductive techniques in some countries.

However, the authors also suggest since fertility is determined by social, behavioural, and biological factors so it would be difficult to interpret these trends based on retrospectively collected data.

They predict that fecundity is expected to decline over time, even if no environmental causes are identified due to assisted conception.

The experts also predicted that the subfertile couples may have as many children as fertile couples, so genetic factors linked to infertility will become more prevalent in the future generations.

They believe that it is now essential to have more direct markers of fecundity and include it in ongoing representative health surveys.

The authors said that the best way to counteract infertility and help couples to have children naturally is to deal with the avoidable causes of subfecundity.

ANI