Infertility may affect 79.6 million women by 2036, posing challenge for Hong Kong
Global infertility cases among women aged 35 to 49 are projected to rise by almost half to 79.64 million by 2036, posing a major public health challenge for Hong Kong as delayed childbearing becomes increasingly common, a large-scale study has found. The study, co-led by the University of Hong Kong, said on Tuesday that the city’s average maternal age was among the world’s highest and called for…
A large-scale study co-led by the University of Hong Kong projects that global infertility cases among women aged 35 to 49 will almost double to 79.64 million by 2036, presenting a significant public health challenge for the city. Hong Kong's average maternal age is among the highest globally, and the study emphasizes the need for stronger fertility education and earlier reproductive planning.
Queenie Li, an associate professor at HKU's school of clinical medicine, stresses that infertility at advanced maternal age is not just a clinical issue but also impacts family well-being, reproductive autonomy, workforce planning, and long-term social development. The research, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women's Health, analyzed data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, finding that the global burden of infertility is shifting towards more developed economies.
In 2023, East Asia had an age-standardized prevalence rate of 12,030 cases per 100,000 women, significantly higher than the global average. The study calls for a shift from a treatment-based model to a more proactive approach, including fertility education and early reproductive planning, especially in highly developed regions like Hong Kong.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
