KGW-TV
August 08, 2025
In response to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that show the U.S. fertility rate -- the overall number of children being born per individual -- dropped to the lowest level on record last year, Paula Amato, M.D. says, “As women get older, their fertility rates, their ability to get pregnant decreases. So, if you start later, you may have fewer children even if you wanted to have a bigger family.” She added that insurance mandates to cover treatment for infertility -- people who have a hard time conceiving a child -- likely have only a limited effect on the overall fertility rate: "I think just on principle, [insurance coverage for infertility] should happen. But whether or not it would affect the fertility rate — it would probably affect the fertility rate a little bit, but it's probably not the main driver of decreasing fertility rates."