In Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Clementine Joyce is celebrating a significant milestone in her pregnancy journey—25 weeks along in her fourth IVF pregnancy. The 31-year-old mother, who has used in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for all her pregnancies, is part of a growing trend in Australia where more women are turning to assisted reproductive technologies to start their families.
This shift is being driven by a combination of delayed childbearing and rising infertility rates. According to projections, within the next century, one in three babies born in Australia could be conceived through IVF.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals that while fertility rates are on the decline, women are increasingly having children later in life. The highest fertility rates are now observed in women aged 30 to 34, and pregnancy rates among women in their 40s are steadily rising, while those in their 20s are seeing a sharp drop in conception rates.
For Clementine, these trends are all too familiar. A nurse by profession, she says that many of her friends have faced difficulties in conceiving. “More of my friends have struggled with fertility than those who haven’t,” Clementine shared with Yahoo News. “Eventually, many of them have ended up pregnant, either after trying for over a year naturally or with some form of fertility assistance.” Her own IVF journey, although challenging at times, has been relatively smooth. Still, she emphasizes the emotional toll of fertility struggles. “It’s like a competition,” she said. “Everyone around you is announcing their pregnancy, and you’re left with an empty bank account and no baby.”
Dr. Alex Polyakov, a leading fertility expert and medical director at Genea Melbourne, highlights that Australia’s fertility crisis is largely social rather than medical. “The problem is not that women are unhealthy, but that they are choosing to have children later,” he explained. The average age for first-time mothers in Australia is now 32, and for women seeking IVF treatment, it’s 38. The challenge, he said, lies in the decline in both the quantity and quality of eggs as women age, particularly by the time they reach their late 30s.
Fertility Trends and IVF’s Growing Role
Recent reports suggest that within the next 100 years, IVF could become an increasingly common route to parenthood. NaturoBest, a prenatal vitamin brand, predicts that as many as one in three babies in Australia could be conceived via IVF by the end of the century. Dr. Polyakov is cautiously optimistic, acknowledging the potential for continued scientific advancements to improve fertility outcomes for older women.
“Progress in reproductive technology over the past 50 years has been extraordinary, and it’s only accelerating,” he said. “In the future, we may see technologies that can help women of any age preserve their fertility or even conceive with eggs created from non-traditional sources, like stem cells.”
Despite these potential breakthroughs, Clementine points out the significant personal and emotional struggles that come with IVF. “The process can be heartbreaking,” she said, referring to a close friend who endured eight failed IVF transfers. “It’s cruel and unfair.” For Clementine, the goal is to normalize the conversation around IVF and fertility struggles. She advocates for women to openly share their experiences and support each other through the challenges.
The Emotional and Physical Impact of IVF
While IVF offers hope to many, it also carries certain risks. Clementine, who is aware of the increased risks associated with fertility treatments—such as a higher likelihood of ovarian and breast cancer—remains determined to continue her journey. “IVF pregnancies carry slightly higher risks of postpartum hemorrhage and postnatal depression, but I’ve successfully carried one pregnancy to full term, and I hope to do the same with this one.”
She acknowledges that conceiving naturally is becoming less common, and society must adapt to this new reality. “The idea of getting pregnant easily and naturally is becoming less and less realistic, and we need to accept that.”
As Australia continues to navigate the complex landscape of fertility, IVF is rapidly becoming an integral part of family-building, reflecting shifting societal norms and evolving reproductive technology. As more women choose to have children later, IVF’s role in shaping the future of Australia’s population will only continue to grow.
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