Fertility preferences adjusted: reimagining parenthood in response to the uncertainty of infertility

Infertility places men and women in a state of considerable uncertainty, characterized by a heightened sense of unpredictability and loss of control. While the experience of such uncertainty might influence individuals' fertility desires and expectations, so far limited research has explored these relationships. Using longitudinal population-based survey data from Australia, this study examines whether dealing with the uncertainty of infertility prompts men and women to revise their pre-existing fertility preferences. Results indicate that infertility-related uncertainty is a meaningful phenomenon that can illuminate about individuals' changes in fertility preferences. While fertility expectations are more likely to be adjusted downward in the face of infertility, fertility desires tend to remain mostly unaffected by it in the short-term. The study reflects on the resilience of desires amidst the uncertainty of infertility and considers potential implications for quantitative research on fertility preferences.