National Fertility Information and Training Day: IBSA Italy at the forefront of prevention and innovation
Today, September 22, marks National Fertility Information and Education Day, created in 2016 to promote awareness of reproductive health and combat the growing phenomenon of declining birth rates. In Italy, just 370,000 children were born in 2024, marking a new historic low and a 2.6% decline compared to the previous year. The fertility rate fell to 1.18 children per woman, well below the replacement level.
Number of live births per year, from 2001 to 2024 Children born in Italy from the resident population
Behind these numbers lies a complex reality: parenthood is often postponed, with the average age at childbirth continuing to rise, now standing at 32.6 years (+0.1 in tenths of a year compared to 2023), and difficulties in conceiving are increasing. It is estimated that around 15% of Italian couples face infertility problems, a condition that can depend on female, male, or both factors, and which is influenced by age, lifestyle, disease, and environmental factors.
Average age at childbirth Average age at first birth (in years and tenths of a year) by region - Italy, 2024
This day was created precisely to break the silence on these issues, promoting open and informed dialogue. The goal is twofold: on the one hand, to raise awareness among the population, especially young people, about the importance of knowing their bodies and their reproductive potential; on the other, to promote equal access to treatments such as Assisted reproductive technology (ART), which in 2024 was finally included in the new Essential Levels of Care (LEA), i.e., the set of services and treatments that the National Health Service is required to guarantee.
However, access to public ART remains uneven: many regions in southern Italy offer less than the national average, forcing couples to travel north to receive adequate treatment. This regional disparity represents an urgent challenge for the National Health Service, which must guarantee equity and quality throughout the country.
Within this context, information plays a crucial role. With this objective in mind IBSA Italy renews its commitment to promoting reproductive health, not only through scientific research and the development of therapeutic solutions, but also through communication projects designed to reach even the youngest members of society.
Among these is “Piano B(aby)”, the communication campaign promoted by IBSA Italy to raise awareness among the younger generations and offer them useful and reliable tools to make informed choices.
The project featured the talented Federico Assini in a series of authentic and direct interviews, designed to gather the doubts and questions of young people. The slogan “Informati oggi, scegli domani” sums up a key message: fertility is an issue that affects everyone, and talking about it right away is the first step in addressing it with awareness.
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