Does the important development of art result from a growing feeling of infecundity?

Elise de La Rochebrochard, INSERM
Henri F. Leridon, INSERM

A fast growth in use of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has been observed in developed countries. This trend might result from a growing feeling of infecundity among women. We analyse data from three French demographic surveys collected in 1988, 1994 and 1998. We estimate first the overall level of infecundity problems reported by women and discuss the definition of the concerned population. Exploring age and generation effects, we show that those women who spent their entire reproductive live after the birth of Louise Brown (the first IVF baby) declared much more infecundity than older generations. The reporting of infecundity problems is also increasing with woman’s age. Although all women declaring infecundity problems could potentially ask for medical help, only 14-16% of women having overcome their infecundity had been treated. Among women who did not succeed in having an expected birth, 31-38% had been treated.