World Health Day sparks call for shared fertility responsibility as Australia records low birth rate
Health professionals say fertility education needs to start earlier, as Australia’s birth rate falls and misconceptions persist about the role both partners play in conception.
Too many Australians are only learning about their fertility when they are already trying for or having trouble conceiving a baby, with experts calling for the topic to be reframed as a responsibility that is shared between men and women.
Health literacy is a major theme of this year’s World Health Day, marked on Tuesday, and experts say fertility literacy should be better prioritised by governments and health professionals.
Australia recently published guidelines around male infertility, which GP and women’s health expert Preeya Alexander said was a big step in ensuring fertility is a shared responsibility, not just a “women’s issue”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“For a long time, discussions around fertility have strongly focused on women and - in a heterosexual couple - it’s often the women who will present (to their GP) for preconception care,” Dr Alexander told AAP.
“The reality is that the male is a big piece of the picture too and they can actively do things to improve their sperm health and positively impact fertility.
“Framing fertility as a shared responsibility encourages both partners to actively seek information, understand their reproductive health and make decisions together.”
The National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 lists health literacy, informed choice and early intervention around fertility as key priorities.
But there appears to be a gap between Australia’s policies to improve health literacy and what the average Australian knows in real life.
Dr Alexander notes most people still only hear about fertility and realise there are day-to-day lifestyle measures that can impact it, when they are either already trying for a baby or having trouble conceiving.
She said good fertility education was about having clear and balanced information, which should be empowering rather than overwhelming.
“Fertility literacy is understanding how your fertility changes over time, what affects it and what you can do to plan ahead to keep options open if you desire,” she said.
“Often people start asking questions around fertility when they feel under pressure, and many don’t realise that there are things we can do day-to-day from a preventative health aspect when it comes to physical activity, diet and stress management that can impact fertility.”
GPs should be at the forefront of these conversations where appropriate, Dr Alexander added.
“Having a conversation early can help patients understand their health, ask the right questions and know when to seek advice, so they can make informed decisions over time,” she said.
“Having fertility conversations means patients can gather information to make informed decisions.”
Australia’s fertility rate, which is the number of babies born per woman, was a record low of 1.481 in 2024, lower than 1.499 in 2023 and 1.795 in 2014.
The median age for mothers was 32.1 years and 33.9 years for fathers, a “slow but steady” increase since 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
