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Lam Ka-sing

Global infertility cases among women aged 35 to 49 will rise by nearly 50 per cent over the next decade, reaching 79.64 million, a study shows, posing a major public health challenge for Hong Kong as delayed childbearing becomes increasingly common.
The study, co-led by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and shared on Tuesday, said the city’s average maternal age was among the world’s highest and called for stronger fertility education and earlier reproductive planning rather than a primary focus on treatment.
“Infertility at advanced maternal age is not just a clinical issue,” said Queenie Li Lingjun, an associate professor in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at HKU’s school of clinical medicine.
“It is closely linked to family well-being, reproductive autonomy, workforce planning and long-term social development,” Li said. “The challenges posed by infertility are attracting increasing attention in Hong Kong as a result of delayed childbearing and changing family structures.”
Published in the international medical journal The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Women’s Health in July, the study was co-led by Li and Dr Zhou Niya of the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children.
Researchers analysed data from a global health database covering 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023. They examined long-term trends and used forecasting models to estimate future infertility prevalence among women aged 35 to 49.
If current trends continued, the number of infertility cases globally in this age group could increase by almost half to about 79.64 million by 2036, the study projected.
The researchers also found that the infertility burden was gradually shifting towards more developed economies.
Although the disparity in infertility burden between regions with high and low socio-demographic index levels narrowed by 23.1 per cent over the 33-year period, East Asia recorded an age-standardised prevalence rate of 12,030 cases per 100,000 women in 2023, substantially above the global average.
“This projection is a scenario-based extrapolation rather than a precise forecast,” Li said.

She said the findings showed that infertility among women of advanced maternal age was a growing and persistent concern that required serious societal attention.
“It is essential that we adopt earlier and more targeted public health measures to address the reproductive health consequences of delayed childbearing,” Li said.
The study said reproductive health planning in Hong Kong had focused mainly on treatment after diagnosis, with less emphasis on earlier interventions such as fertility education, risk identification, timely assessment and preventive measures.
Highly developed regions such as Hong Kong should move beyond a treatment-based model and adopt a more proactive, forward-looking strategy, including stronger fertility education and the promotion of early reproductive planning, the researchers said.
“Our research provides international benchmarks that can inform the allocation of reproductive health resources in Hong Kong, enabling policymakers to assess whether existing services are sufficiently accessible, timely and equitable, particularly for women who may delay seeking care because of financial constraints, limited awareness or competing work and family responsibilities,” Li said.
She added that the findings supported a broader life-course approach to reproductive health, including fertility awareness, prevention and early treatment of reproductive disorders, timely referral mechanisms, equitable access to fertility services, and policies that better supported women and families in making informed fertility plans and decisions.


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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Researchers urge Hong Kong to prioritise fertility education, early reproductive planning and timely access to care


Researchers urge Hong Kong to prioritise fertility education, early reproductive planning and timely access to care.


Reproductive health

China

Infertility could affect 79.6 million women by 2036, posing challenge for Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Researchers urge Hong Kong to prioritise fertility education, early reproductive planning and timely access to care

Researchers urge Hong Kong to prioritise fertility education, early reproductive planning and timely access to care