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Warning That Sexually Transmitted Diseases Will Lead to Fertility Struggles for Third of Couples

Posted on: Thursday, 23 June 2005, 21:00 CDT

THREATS to human fertility such as obesity and sexually transmitted disease could lead to a third of couples requiring IVF treatment in 10 years' time, an expert warned yesterday.

Postponement of having families, and the reduction in male fertility - often blamed on environmental chemicals - are also adding to the problem, said Professor Bill Ledger of Sheffield University.

Young women should be allowed career breaks to have children to help avert the looming crisis, he said - the increasing age at which women were having their first babies was contributing to an "infertility time bomb".

Currently one in seven couples are thought to be infertile but this could rise to as many as one in three in 10 years' time.

Professor Ledger said familyfriendly career-break policies were needed to ensure that young women could have children when they were most fertile.

"People say it is condescending to say this, but it is not condescending, it is biology, " he said.

"Women are simply not as fertile after 35. It's easier and more straightforward to do whatever you can to encourage women to have children naturally, rather than waiting to the point at which IVF may be needed."

Professor Ledger, who was speaking at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Copenhagen, said: "The amount of infertility in Europe is going to increase inthe next decade, and I think it will probably double. It's going to become a major political issue.

You have an ageing population who are trying to have children later. There is a major increase in STDs like chlamydia, which can reduce female fertility with a 10-year time lag.

"You have a huge increase in obesity, which can interfere with ovulation and there's also the possible decline in male fertility." Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause infertility by damaging the fallopian tubes. It has risen in prevalence by 140-per cent in the past decade and by 9-per cent between 2002 and 2003.

Obesity is thought to trigger polycystic ovarian syndrome, which can also lead to infertility in women.

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

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