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Fertility is becoming a business issue
Women are delaying having children. This can present challenges for employees and businesses.
- 50 years ago, the average first-time mother was 26.4 years old.1
- Now, most people believe 28 is the ideal age for a woman to start a family.2
- But in reality, the average age for women to have their first child is 30.9.3
Several factors are driving this. Over the same time scale, the number of women going to university, or pursuing higher education, has jumped.
From fewer than 15% in 1974,4
to 41% in 2023.5
Economic barriers
It’s also harder to buy a home. Latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that, in England, the average house costs 8.3 times the average wage. In 1997, it was 3.5 times the typical wage. In Wales, the ratio has increased from 3 to 6.2.6
And would-be parents may prefer to consolidate their careers before starting a family.
However, these considerations must be balanced with biological reality. Female fertility begins to decline in the early thirties, when most women are starting their families. From 35, the chances of conceiving can begin to fall more rapidly.7
The risk of miscarriage also rises with age, from 10% in women aged 25 to 29, to around 20% in those aged 35 to 39. And more than 50% in women over 45.8
There is also clear evidence of an age-related decline in male fertility. This includes reduced sperm quality, falling levels of testosterone and an increased prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED).9
Competing pressures
Charlotte Gentry, Founder of The IVF Network, says,
“It can be difficult to reconcile these competing pressures. There may be underlying societal expectations and prejudices to navigate.
“There will be women who decide to start their family as a solo parent. Individuals in same-sex relationships may face difficult conversations with family and friends. And people who identify as transgender or non-binary may have additional medical or psychological issues associated with their gender identity to navigate.
“But whatever the circumstances, things may not go to plan.”
As many as one in seven couples has difficulty conceiving.10
In around 30% of cases women have fertility problems.
In 30%, the men have fertility problems also.
And, in 30 to 40% of cases, it’s a combination of the two, or the cause is unknown.11
And while fertility treatment offers hope, there are no guarantees. And, some people will choose not to take this route.
Mental health impacts
A recent study found that:
60% of people in a relationship where one partner was undergoing fertility treatment said this had impacted their mental health.
Almost half (49%) said infertility had undermined their work-life balance.12
Charlotte says,
“When you discover you have a fertility-related challenge, the immense feeling of failure is overwhelming. Everyone around you makes it look so easy and you are battling against all odds. The prospect of having to undergo fertility treatment is terrifying. Plus the pressures of work. The entire experience can have a detrimental effect on a persons mental health. And maybe even lead to feelings of guilt, emptiness, anxiety, and depression.
“The pathway to parenthood for people in the LGBTQ+ audience is still very challenging and includes the complexities of donor eggs or sperm and/or surrogacy. Navigating your way through this journey has legal implications. It’s very difficult to know who to turn to and where to go to obtain the best information.”
There is a clear opportunity for businesses to improve the support available to employees wanting to start a family.
Research for the Fawcett Society found:
43% of staff having fertility treatment struggled to juggle the demands of treatment and work.13
And 42% believed it had slowed their career progression.
Almost all (92%) had taken time off for treatment.
Mind the communication gap
Communication is a challenge.
68% of employees undergo fertility treatment without telling their HR department.
59% keep it a secret from their manager.
50% of women said they weren’t sure why they hadn’t disclosed they were having treatment.
Some blamed an unsupportive workplace environment.
Yet paradoxically, four in five women undergoing treatment believe it’s important to facilitate open and safe conversations around fertility at work.
Charlotte adds,
“This highlights the importance of creating an open and supportive culture and embedding a family-friendly approach.
“Treatment can be physically and emotionally draining. At key phases of the process, patients may need to see their doctor every day or so, sometimes at short notice. Many will need to administer medication at specific times of the day and then it is very likely that the first round of treatment will be unsuccessful so dealing with baby loss and bereavement is horrific when trying to balance work and a fertility journey. Being able to feel safe in having those key open conversations with a line manager is therefore critical to protect an employee’s mental health."
Invest in the future
Charlotte says,
“When line managers are aware that a team member is having fertility treatment, they are able to offer greater flexibility around appointments. Such as, reasonable adjustments at work and signposts to help and resources.
“Many will be highly motivated women who have delayed motherhood to focus on their career.
“This is talent that no organisation can afford to lose. Particularly in such a competitive market for recruitment.”
Talent retention
Charlotte says,
“Most women undergoing fertility treatment will be in their thirties or early forties and have an invaluable combination of workplace experience and relative youth.
“Providing a supportive environment for valued team members will pay real dividends in terms of talent retention.”
As Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society says,
“Creating an environment which supports workers going through fertility treatment will result in happier staff, better retention, and better progression of talented women.
All of which ultimately leads to an improved gender pay gap and more flourishing staff.”
Resources from the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Academy
Manager’s guide: Pregnancy and fertility at work
Manager’s guide: Supporting parents returning to work
1 Statista, February 2024.
2 YouGov, June 2021.
3 Statista, February 2024.
4 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (PDF, 0.4MB), 2008.
6 Office for National Statistics, March 2023.
7 British Fertility Society, At what age does fertility begin to decrease?
8 NHS, March 2022.
9 National Library of Medicine, Reproductive axis ageing and fertility in men, November 2022, DOI: 10.1007/s11154-022-09759-0
10 NHS, August 2023.
11 British Fertility Society, What is infertility?
12 Reproductive biomedicine online, Tailored support may reduce mental and relational impact of infertility on infertile patients and partners, February 2022, DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.01.015
13 Totaljobs, The Fawcett Society (PDF, 4.3MB), Navigating fertility at work.
