Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 5;13(1):10854. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37071-7.
This study aims to enhance the understanding of how the increasing use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has contributed to the increase in the total fertility rate (TFR) and to further delaying childbearing. Moreover, it addresses the gap in the methodology concerning the quantification of the effect of ART on fertility postponement. Czechia is one of few countries that are able to serve for the study of the demographic impacts of ART. ART and non-ART fertility rates were calculated using unique data on all children born in Czechia. Excluding mothers who received cross-border reproductive care, the proportion of ART live births in Czechia has not exceeded 4%. However, without ART the TFR would have stood at just 1.65 instead of 1.71 in 2020. ART significantly contributed to a reduction in childlessness and to the increase in fertility rates at ages over 35. Applying the decomposition method, the contribution of the use of ART to delaying childbearing between 2013 and 2020 was 4%. The findings have important policy implications. ART has the potential to support fertility recovery in the context of delayed childbearing. The findings served to alleviate concerns about the contribution of ART to the further undesired delay of childbearing.
本研究旨在深入了解辅助生殖技术（ART）的广泛应用如何导致总生育率（TFR）的增加和生育的进一步推迟。此外，本研究还解决了关于量化 ART 对生育推迟影响的方法学上的差距。捷克是少数几个能够研究 ART 对人口影响的国家之一。使用关于捷克所有儿童出生的独特数据，计算了 ART 和非-ART 的生育率。如果不考虑接受跨境生殖保健的母亲，捷克的 ART 活产比例从未超过 4%。然而，如果没有 ART，2020 年的 TFR 将仅为 1.65，而不是 1.71。ART 显著有助于减少不孕，并提高 35 岁以上的生育率。通过应用分解方法，2013 年至 2020 年期间，ART 的使用对生育推迟的贡献为 4%。这些发现具有重要的政策意义。ART 有可能在延迟生育的背景下支持生育力的恢复。这些发现缓解了对 ART 进一步导致生育推迟的担忧。
