ABSTRACT
If the number of couples seeking investigation and treatment of subfertility is on the increase, is fertility declining? If so, is this decline a global problem or unique to developing countries – and then, is it secondary to the older age at which women, in particular, are choosing to start a family or is it caused by environmental problems? Globally, there is undoubtedly a problem with overpopulation, and there are those who raise overpopulation as an issue when considering funding infertility therapy. However, in global terms, the number of children conceived as a result of infertility therapy is tiny as is the nal family size of couples who undergo treatment. This chapter deals not with the broader ethical debate, instead it outlines some of the preventable causes of infertility.
