Amid falling global fertility rates, school sex education should be expanded to cover both contraception and ways to safeguard reproductive health, it is claimed.
With rates having more than halved since 1950, the move could play an important role in tackling the on-going crisis, says leading fertility expert, Professor Bart Fauser.
“Raising fertility awareness is essential to combat falling birth rates in the UK and worldwide,” says Prof Fauser, scientific director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS).
“Young people need to learn about factors that can affect fertility, including sexually transmitted infections, obesity, smoking, anabolic steroid or cannabis use, delayed childbearing, and exposure to environmental chemicals.
Professor Bart Fauser
“At present, school sex education focuses mainly on preventing unwanted pregnancies, with little emphasis on family-building strategies that help young people plan for having children later in life.”
To address the issue, the IFFS has launched a global More Joy campaign, which provides resources for schools, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to improve fertility education.
“Understanding fertility isn’t about telling people when to have children,” added Prof Fauser, who researches reproductive medicine and fertility. “It’s about giving them the facts so they can make informed decisions for their future.
"eHealth platforms, chat sites, and social media can be useful for reproductive literacy, but the information isn’t always based on solid science.”
In a recent commentary in The Lancet, Prof Fauser drew attention to falling fertility rates, calling on policymakers worldwide to boost fertility awareness and access to care.
"Societies that actively support young people in achieving their reproductive objectives … will be better positioned to navigate the distinct challenges of shifting population dynamics," wrote Fauser et al, authors of “Expanding fertility awareness and choices: a public health imperative”.
"Decreasing fertility rates will result in a decline in the global population towards the end of this century, with smaller populations reshaping the face of societies in ways yet to be fully comprehended.”
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development recently urged countries to act now to prevent slowing population growth from harming long-term economic prospects.
One in six couples experience infertility globally, according to the World Health Organization, and surveys show that young adults who want to have children face barriers such as affordable housing, education costs, and concerns about climate change.
The IFFS’ More Joy campaign is reaching out to healthcare professionals, companies, and policymakers in 130 countries with campaign materials in 17 languages urging more affordable and equitable access to fertility care. The first IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown, recently joined the campaign as an ambassador.
