Reproductive difficulties in the context of declining fertility: The role of the Generations and Gender Survey
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Abstract
This article addresses the significance of studying reproduction difficulties associated with infertility in the context of low fertility, alongside a review of the methodological approaches employed in research on reproductive health with special focus on the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, approximately one in six people globally have experienced infertility at some stage in their lives. As childbearing postponement in Europe is progressing and ability to conceive declines with age, reproductive difficulties are increasingly recognised as a factor inhibiting realisation of people’s childbearing aspirations. In the paper, we present main conceptualisations of reproductive difficulties and review different methodological approaches to this topic in reproductive health surveys, including various definitions and measurements of infertility. Finally, the article emphasises the potential of the GGS, with its wide scope, panel design and international comparability, for future research into the causes and consequences of infertility. The article concludes by stressing the importance of interdisciplinary and internationally comparable research to inform policies supporting reproductive healthcare.
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