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One in seven couples now has trouble conceiving
naturally, but Professor Bill Ledger from Sheffield University
warned this could rise to one in three. He told a European
fertility conference that women should be offered career breaks
so they could have children younger, when they are more fertile.
Obesity and sex infections were also increasing infertility,
he said.
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2005/06/20
The incidence of chlamydia,
a sexually transmitted infection which carries a risk of
infertility, has doubled over the last
decade - and 6% of girls under the age of 19 are currently
classed as obese.
A potential rise in male infertility could
also affect couples, Professor Ledger said. Both the quality
and quantity of sperm appeared to be in decline.
Time bomb
"Young people of today will become tomorrow's patients
in infertility
clinics," Professor Ledger said.
He warned the rise in sexually transmitted infections
in young teenagers was likely to cause blocked fallopian tubes in some.
"Later,
when these young women want to become mothers, they find they can't conceive."
Professor
Ledger added: "The obese child is almost certain destined to become an obese
adult. Many women who are overweight will not ovulate as efficiently."
'Too few
children'
Inflexible working hours and financial and career aspirations mean
many women are putting off having a family until they are in their late 30s and
early 40s, he said.
"The sustainability of the population of Europe is at risk
because there are too few children being born. It is a threat to the future."
But
he said it was not too late to reverse the trend, with many countries, such as
those in Scandinavia, introducing policies to encourage women to have children
earlier.
He suggested the UK also follow the lead of France by introducing tax
relief and giving greater support to women who want to take career breaks to
start a family.
"Women are simply not as fertile after 35," Professor Ledger
said.
"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."
'Growing concern'
Dr Allan Pacey, of the British Fertility Society,
said: "Nature designed women to have children in probably their late teens and
early twenties, and many women are now waiting until they are over 35.
"The message
has to be driven home that the sooner you do it, the more likely it is you will
be able to conceive without medical assistance."
Dr Pacey said the NHS was unlikely
to be able to fund a huge increase in demand for fertility treatment. He also
stressed that treatment was not without risk.
Dr Becky Lang, from the Association
for the Study of Obesity said the issue of fertility and obesity was often overlooked.
"Being
obese can significantly reduce your fertility as well as causing more complications
when they do become pregnant.
"We have just been asked by the NHS to conduct
more research into this as it is of growing concern to health professionals."
A
spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "The government is committed
to improving the health of nation, reducing obesity, promoting healthy living,
increasing physical activity and tackling sexually transmitted infections."
Story from BBC NEWS
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Infertility