A new fertility study reveals that Covid is preventing people from having children. Why? Dr Aleem Qreshi, GP, explains everything from money problems to undiagnosed illnesses.

Healthily has conducted a new survey that reveals myths and misconceptions about fertility.

A poll conducted in November 2021 of 1,000 men, women and couples aged 25-35 revealed that there is still confusion over what affects fertility and chances of conception.

Other key findings of the survey include:

• 57% of respondents believed that an egg’s fertilisation window was only two days after its release. The egg can only survive for 24 hours after it is released. Sperm, however, can live up to 5-7 days.
• 36 percent of respondents incorrectly believed that men do not have a biological timer. Although men can have children well into their 70s, their fertility decreases with age.
• 30% of respondents believed that women cannot get pregnant while on their period. It is possible for a woman to become pregnant during her period. If a woman ovulates too early, the remaining sperm may be able to fertilize an egg.
• 20% of people incorrectly thought that smoking did not affect fertility. Smoking affects male and female fertility. ovarian reserves in women, and the sperm count of men are affected.
• 19,7 percent falsely believed that being overweight did not affect fertility. Being overweight or obese affects both male and women fertility.

The most alarming finding was that 34% of respondents claimed the pandemic made them realize they didn’t want to have children. 22% of them said it was because of life uncertainty and 13% blamed financial factors.

The live birth rate in England & Wales has fallen for the fifth consecutive year

Healthyly , the first health app certified as a Class 1 medical device, is the clinical lead and GP at .

This could be very important for those who are trying to conceive a child. Simple lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight can increase your chances.

The Office of National Statistics has released the latest figures showing that the birth rate in England & Wales has fallen for the fifth consecutive year, to 613 936. This is the lowest level since 2002.

Why has the number of live births dropped by 15.9 percent since 2012?

The #1 Reason for Money Worries

Thirty percent of respondents said that not earning enough money is the greatest barrier to having children.

Dr Aleem Qreshi says that costs may be making some people think twice about becoming parents.

The biggest obstacle to having children is not earning enough money

It’s possible that job insecurity due to the pandemic and the ending of the furlough program, as well as rising prices, have also compounded the financial concerns for parents who are considering adopting children.

Our survey shows that uncertainty has affected people’s decisions about their lives.

Second Reason: Disruption of lifestyle

One reason that respondents gave for not wanting children is because they felt that children would limit their lifestyle.

One in five people said that they were unable to maintain a certain lifestyle, and this was an obstacle to having children. This could be due to the rising cost of fuel and food, as well as housing.

The third reason for undiagnosed health problems

Undiagnosed medical concerns were also cited by 11 percent of respondents as a reason.

Smoking, PCOS, obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, or an irregular cycle can all impact your ability to get pregnant.

It’s vital to consult a doctor after a year of trying for a child without success (or six months if over 35). The doctor will be able discuss any symptoms that you might have and look into any possible causes.

If you have been trying to conceive a child but are having no luck, it’s vital that you speak to a doctor.

Healthily believes it is important to provide medically reviewed and useful information to fill in these knowledge gaps, helping anyone who wishes to conceive.

If you’re planning to start a family, it’s crucial that you know when your fertility is at its peak and how the age affects your fertility.

Reason #4 Career Focus

In the past century, there has been a significant shift with more women working to advance their careers. 16 percent of respondents said that they chose not to have children because they wanted to concentrate on their career.

The employment rate for women aged between 25 and 54 increased from 57 percent in 1975 to an all-time high of 78 percent in 2017.

Only 16 percent of the women surveyed by Healthily said they would rather focus on their career before starting a family. This was a less important concern than finding the right partner or earning enough money.