Young people ‘too optimistic’ about their chances of conceiving

A new survey has revealed a concerning level of confusion when it comes to fertility in Ireland, with one expert warning that Irish couples are 'too optimistic' about their chances of conceiving.  According to the study, the majority of Irish adults (79 per cent) did not know that the age at which fertility begins to decline is 30, with most incorrectly guessing 35. Meanwhile six out of ten adults said they were unaware of the existence of fertility check services. The national report was commissioned by My Fertility Check - a self-referral fertility assessment service for men, women and couples. Commenting on the results, Head of Clinical Services at My Fertility Check, Mary McAuliffe, said the proportion of people that are misinformed is of concern:

“The results really highlight the need for a nation-wide, State-funded education campaign on fertility and reproductive health, particularly targeting students at third level. Young people need to be educated on the lifestyle choices that can affect their fertility; in particular, age, smoking, alcohol and health issues such as sexually transmitted diseases.” she said.

Urging couples to book a fertility test as early as possible, Ms McAuliffe added:

“From fertility-awareness studies and population surveys, we have learned that most young people are too optimistic about their chances to conceive spontaneously after age 35. Also, young people tend to overestimate the effectiveness of IVF, in part due to the number of celebrities giving birth in their forties and, also due to ‘miracle’ stories in the media” she continued.

After a recent Eurostat survey showed that first time mothers in Ireland are among the oldest in Europe, with 52 per cent aged between 30 and 39, respondents were also asked for their opinion on why people in Ireland are leaving it later in life to start a family. The majority of women (46 per cent) said that waiting for the right partner was their main reason for delaying motherhood. More than one third of men (37 per cent) cited financial concerns as their main reason to put off fatherhood. Do you think Ireland needs a nationwide, State-funded education campaign on fertility and reproductive health? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.