Fertility rates are falling while access to fertility treatment is being reduced.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the total fertility rate across England and Wales fell to a record low of 1.39 children per woman in 2025 the lowest number recorded since 1977.
At the same time, NHS-funded IVF provision is being rationed in England, with some areas reducing access to treatment despite the devastating impact.
These figures do not tell the individual stories behind them, the people facing infertility, the couples and individuals unable to access treatment, or those being forced to consider paying privately, something many simply cannot afford.
They also do not show what this could mean for our future economy.
A sustained decline in birth rates will affect workforce size, productivity and long-term economic stability. Fewer births today mean fewer people entering the labour market tomorrow, with potential implications for public services, pensions and the wider economy.
Fertility treatment must not depend on your postcode, your income or your ability to pay.
INHS-funded IVF is clinically recommended, people should have fair and consistent access to treatment in line with NICE guidance.
The falling fertility rate should prompt meaningful discussion about fertility health, education, prevention and support not further restrictions for those already struggling to build their families.
We need urgent action to end IVF inequity across England