The increasing demand for infertility treatment

At present NHS services for infertile couples are under-developed compared with those available in the private sector. Health care planners should be aware that the demand for infertility treatment is likely to increase. The average age at first child birth has increased and presumably also the average age at the first attempt to conceive. The rise in divorce rates and second marriages has resulted in increasing numbers of couples wishing to start a second family at a comparatively advanced age. If, as it appears, the time taken to conceive increases with age, the higher average age of women attempting to conceive could cause an increase in the prevalence of infertility, and the demand for treatment. Divorce and remarriage of sterilised people has resulted in a demand for reversal of sterilisation and for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The age of onset of sexual activity has fallen. This, combined with later marriage, has led to an increase in the number of sexually active single people, with an increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted disease of which infertility is a possible sequel. The opportunity to adopt is now available for very few couples because of the decreasing proportion of illegitimate babies available for adoption. Recent publicity given to developments such as gamete intra fallopian transfer (GIFT) and IVF may have increased the demand for treatment.