Infertility may affect 79.6 million women by 2036, posing challenge for Hong Kong

A new study predicts that by 2036, approximately 79.64 million women aged 35 to 49 will suffer from infertility, presenting a significant public health challenge for Hong Kong. This projection comes from a joint research effort led by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children. The city's average maternal age is among the highest globally, prompting calls for more proactive fertility education and earlier reproductive planning.

HKU associate professor Queenie Li Lingjun emphasized that infertility in older women is not merely a clinical issue but is also linked to family well-being, reproductive autonomy, workforce planning and long-term social development. The study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women's Health, examined data from 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023.

It projected that the number of infertility cases in women aged 35 to 49 could increase by nearly 50% over the next decade. The burden of infertility is shifting towards more developed economies, with East Asia recording an age-standardized prevalence rate of 12,030 cases per 100,000 women in 2023, which is substantially higher than the global average.

The researchers argue that Hong Kong should move away from a treatment-focused model and instead adopt a proactive approach, emphasizing fertility education and early reproductive planning. The study suggests that policymakers can use these findings to evaluate the accessibility, timeliness, and equity of existing reproductive health services, particularly for women who may delay seeking care due to financial constraints, limited awareness, or competing responsibilities.