About one in three women of reproductive age in Germany experiences biological fertility barriers such as infertility or pregnancy loss. This is shown by a recent study by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), which examined reproductive experiences over a period of ten years.

The analysis is based on data from the pairfam family panel and includes 1,862 women from three birth cohorts. Around 28 percent of those surveyed reported infertility, i.e. difficulties in achieving pregnancy that leads to delays or absences. Another 9 percent reported one or more miscarriages. Overall, about one in three women is affected by such barriers.

The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child is currently 30.4 years. As the woman – and the man – gets older, the risk of infertility and pregnancy loss increases significantly. While 63 percent of women in the mid-20s to mid-30s age group had at least one child within ten years, this proportion drops significantly for women aged 35 and over. In this group, almost one in two women (47 percent) has already experienced fertility barriers. Only about 8 percent of women aged 35 and over achieved a birth without such problems – compared to 41 percent in the middle-aged group.

The study underlines that, in addition to structural factors such as the compatibility of family and career, biological-medical influences also play a significant role in starting a family, which largely elude individual control. Realistic knowledge about the influence of age on the risk of pregnancy loss and infertility as well as about the possibilities and limits of assisted reproduction can support women and men in family planning.

The results were presented by Dr. Nadja Milewski and Dr. Jasmin Passet-Wittig from BiB.

Original Paper:

Milewski, Nadja; Passet-Wittig, Jasmin (2026): Risk factor postponement of births – pregnancy loss, infertility and birth in the course of life. In: BiB.Aktuell 2/2026.
https:www.bib.bund.de/Publikation/2026/BiB-Aktuell-2026-2

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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