How to Address Declining Fertility Rates: Solutions and Innovations
March 18, 2025- A study says that the overall fertility rate has decreased by half since 1950. The average number of live births to a woman who survives her reproductive years (ages 15–49) is known as the fertility rate. Declining fertility rates have now become a trend around the globe.
- Numerous factors, such as social and economic change, have an impact on it. One indicator of population growth is the total fertility rate or TFR. While fertility rates continue to fall, the world's population is increasing.
- Fortunately, infertile couples have a number of options, including assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Let's take a closer look at how a number of innovations can help address the issue of declining fertility rates.
Causes of Declining Fertility Rate in India There are numerous reasons for the significant decline in India's fertility rate.. These are:
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Ages of Men and Women
The age of a woman is the most significant factor influencing her fertility. Both the quantity and quality of a woman's eggs decrease with age. For most women, fertility begins to decline after the age of 35, even though menopause does not occur until the early 50s.
Similarly, for men, it is now evident that sperm quality decreases with age. Women who have male partners older than 45 are twice as likely to miscarry as women who have partners younger than 25.
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Being Over or Underweight
Being overweight or underweight can have a negative impact on fertility for both men and women. Excessive levels of estrogen in the body can impact a woman's reproductive cycle if her body fat percentage is 10 to 15 percent higher than average. On the other hand, women who have body fat percentages 10 to 15 percent below the average can stop their bodies from reproducing normally.
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Hormone levels
Certain hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), have an impact on the reproductive cycle and can interfere with normal reproduction if they are imbalanced. Infertility results from high levels of androgens, such as testosterone, which stop a woman's body from ovulating regularly in conditions like PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Low testosterone is one example of a male hormonal imbalance that can impact sperm quality and production.
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Damage in Reproductive Organ
Both men and women may experience infertility as a result of reproductive organ damage. For instance, cysts or blockages that hinder conception may result from endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that ordinarily grows inside the uterus grows outside and spreads to other nearby organs. On the other hand, sperm quality can be decreased in men due to conditions like varicocele, which causes the veins draining the testicle to swell.
Addressing Fertility Challenges with IVF-assisted Innovations
For a variety of reasons, becoming parents is difficult for many couples nowadays. But, due to the newest advancements in healthcare technology, infertility has increased dramatically in recent years. The medical field has seen significant advancements in fertility treatments and assisted reproductive technologies over time. Let's examine the potential contribution of these treatment options to raising fertility rates in India:
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In-vitro Fertilization - Popular Fertility Treatment
In-vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a well-known fertility procedure that is employed around the world. It has been known to be a prominent treatment option in the history of fertility treatment. This fertility treatment allows the egg from the female and the sperm from the male to fertilize in a laboratory dish. The resultant embryo is implanted in the uterine lining. Over the years, IVF treatment has developed with the most recent advancements and technological developments.
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AI-assisted IVF
AI has transformed IVF treatment and associated technologies for the future. It is a promising tool for analyzing vast amounts of data and improving IVF results. AI aids in hormone monitoring, which is essential for IVF treatment. AI-assisted IVF also aids in selecting mature embryos for uterine implantation.
Stem Cell Treatment
Scientists are searching for methods to enhance the results of IVF treatment in terms of pregnancy. A common trend in IVF treatment is the use of stem cells. Reproductive tissues can be renewed, and new cells can be created using stem cell technology.
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Laser-assisted Hatching
This is one of the amazing IVF technologies that raises the chances of the embryo successfully implanting in the uterus. The most recent method involves creating a tiny hole in the embryo's outer layer. This procedure facilitates the embryo's hatching and uterine implantation.
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Cryopreservation
This method transforms the way infertility is treated. The process of freezing samples to preserve organelles, tissues, cells, or any other biological construct is known as cryopreservation. For people who have reached puberty, there are three options: sperm cryopreservation, egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation), and embryo cryopreservation.
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Time Lapse Imaging
Another name for this new method is an embryoscope. Using this method, a physician selects a viable embryo for transfer by tracking its growth in a lab. The embryoscope increases the success rate of IVF treatment by reducing the number of pregnancies.
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Automated Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
The medical field benefits greatly from the development of nanobots and robotics. For men with infertility problems, automated intracytoplasmic sperm injection produces better outcomes. Accurate analysis of oocyte penetration is made possible by robotics and nanotechnology
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Liposomal Nutrient-rich Fertility Supplements
Couples can use fertility supplements instead of artificial reproductive technologies to help them conceive naturally. Liposomal nutrients that are high in vitamins and minerals can now be included in a small capsule due to recent developments in medical technology.
Bottom Line
Treatment for infertility has advanced significantly since the development of IVF in the 1970s, and things appear to be getting better in the future. In India, couples who previously believed they would never conceive are finding hope with the advancements in fertility care. These developments could enable same-sex couples to have genetically related children and enable women to become mothers at a significantly later age. Couples hoping to become parents now have a bright future thanks to various technologies in fertility treatment approaches.
If you’re seeking the best possible treatment options to combat infertility, then visit Apollo Fertility today!
