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| 'Dating is fruitless so I've frozen my eggs' | 'Dating is fruitless so I've frozen my eggs' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ellie Lambert has frozen her eggs in the hope of meeting someone or "being in a financial situation where I can go it alone" | Ellie Lambert has frozen her eggs in the hope of meeting someone or "being in a financial situation where I can go it alone" |
| The number of babies born in England and Wales is now the lowest since the 1970s, official statistics show. | The number of babies born in England and Wales is now the lowest since the 1970s, official statistics show. |
| The fertility rate - which measures how many children are born per woman during her child-bearing years - is the lowest on record at 1.44. Scotland's is even lower at 1.3. | The fertility rate - which measures how many children are born per woman during her child-bearing years - is the lowest on record at 1.44. Scotland's is even lower at 1.3. |
| Britain is not unique - most countries are experiencing declining fertility and some are even going to great lengths to create a baby boom. | Britain is not unique - most countries are experiencing declining fertility and some are even going to great lengths to create a baby boom. |
| So what's causing the fall-off in fertility? There's the high cost of bringing up children, the pressure to stay in work and the challenge of finding the right partner. | So what's causing the fall-off in fertility? There's the high cost of bringing up children, the pressure to stay in work and the challenge of finding the right partner. |
| But there's also evidence that more and more young adults don't plan on having any children at all. | But there's also evidence that more and more young adults don't plan on having any children at all. |
| BBC News has spoken to two women and two men in their thirties - the average age at which people in England and Wales become parents - to get their thoughts on the issue. | BBC News has spoken to two women and two men in their thirties - the average age at which people in England and Wales become parents - to get their thoughts on the issue. |
| Ellie, 39: I've frozen my eggs | Ellie, 39: I've frozen my eggs |
| Ellie says it's more difficult to find someone who "genuinely wants" a relationship on dating apps | Ellie says it's more difficult to find someone who "genuinely wants" a relationship on dating apps |
| Ellie Lambert, who lives in Sheffield, wants to have children but says she hasn't found a suitable partner. | Ellie Lambert, who lives in Sheffield, wants to have children but says she hasn't found a suitable partner. |
| Two years ago, she spent £18,000 on two cycles of egg freezing. "I find it really frustrating, it's a lot of cost for something that may not ever lead to anything," she says. | Two years ago, she spent £18,000 on two cycles of egg freezing. "I find it really frustrating, it's a lot of cost for something that may not ever lead to anything," she says. |
| She hopes to use them if she meets someone, or if she reaches a financial situation where she can "go it alone" with the aid of a sperm donor. | She hopes to use them if she meets someone, or if she reaches a financial situation where she can "go it alone" with the aid of a sperm donor. |
| Ellie says she 's concerned about the additional financial pressure on single-parent households. | Ellie says she 's concerned about the additional financial pressure on single-parent households. |
| A report, external from the Child Poverty Action Group last year found the average cost of raising a child to age 18 was £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent. | A report, external from the Child Poverty Action Group last year found the average cost of raising a child to age 18 was £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a lone parent. |
| Though Ellie thought she would meet someone by her late 20s, "despite proactively being on all of the apps, it just didn't happen." | Though Ellie thought she would meet someone by her late 20s, "despite proactively being on all of the apps, it just didn't happen." |
| She says dating had become "fruitless", citing the seemingly endless choice that dating apps offer as a factor, with fewer people wanting to commit. | She says dating had become "fruitless", citing the seemingly endless choice that dating apps offer as a factor, with fewer people wanting to commit. |
| But going it alone would be "a big decision", says Ellie, who considers herself fortunate to earn a good salary. | |
| Having already spent her savings on egg freezing, she says it would cost a further £10,000 to use a sperm donor with IVF. | Having already spent her savings on egg freezing, she says it would cost a further £10,000 to use a sperm donor with IVF. |
| Chris and Gemma: Vasectomy aged 33 | Chris and Gemma: Vasectomy aged 33 |
| Chris Taylor has decided to have a vasectomy | |
| HGV driver Chris Taylor and dog groomer Gemma Wrathmell jointly earn an income of about £60,000 and have been together for 11 years. | HGV driver Chris Taylor and dog groomer Gemma Wrathmell jointly earn an income of about £60,000 and have been together for 11 years. |
| The couple, who live in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, considered having children. | The couple, who live in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, considered having children. |
| "We have had deep conversations where we go through the options and discuss things like school, cost and routine," Gemma says. | "We have had deep conversations where we go through the options and discuss things like school, cost and routine," Gemma says. |
| But the conclusion was that the cost was too high. | But the conclusion was that the cost was too high. |
| "After all our bills and essentials there is no room in the budget to accommodate a child," Chris says. "We don't see how our finances will get any better within the next few years." | "After all our bills and essentials there is no room in the budget to accommodate a child," Chris says. "We don't see how our finances will get any better within the next few years." |
| As a result, they have taken a "definitive decision" - Chris is seeking to have a vasectomy, after years of Gemma having a contraceptive implant. | As a result, they have taken a "definitive decision" - Chris is seeking to have a vasectomy, after years of Gemma having a contraceptive implant. |
| "Some people have said you'll change your mind, but they know it's our decision," says Gemma. | "Some people have said you'll change your mind, but they know it's our decision," says Gemma. |
| "I'm also not that maternal," she adds. | "I'm also not that maternal," she adds. |
| Dami, 34: I'm waiting until I'm ready | Dami, 34: I'm waiting until I'm ready |
| Ms Olonisakin said she was not "in a rush" to have children | Ms Olonisakin said she was not "in a rush" to have children |
| For Dami Olonisakin, a sex and relationships podcaster who lives in London, improvements in fertility treatments - such as egg freezing - are "empowering" and give women "more control than ever". | For Dami Olonisakin, a sex and relationships podcaster who lives in London, improvements in fertility treatments - such as egg freezing - are "empowering" and give women "more control than ever". |
| Motherhood, she says, is not something to "be taken lightly". | Motherhood, she says, is not something to "be taken lightly". |
| "Childcare costs are soaring, maternity policies are limited, women basically have to think really hard," she says. | "Childcare costs are soaring, maternity policies are limited, women basically have to think really hard," she says. |
| She also wants to have the "support system" of a long-term partner in place before having children. | She also wants to have the "support system" of a long-term partner in place before having children. |
| But she isn't in a hurry. "I don't feel I'm in a rush to settle down and have kids just because it's expected," she says. | But she isn't in a hurry. "I don't feel I'm in a rush to settle down and have kids just because it's expected," she says. |
| Instead she is focusing on her career after growing up in a household that "didn't have anything". | Instead she is focusing on her career after growing up in a household that "didn't have anything". |
| "I remember thinking to myself, 'I am never ever putting a child through this'," she says. | "I remember thinking to myself, 'I am never ever putting a child through this'," she says. |
| "[My parents] absolutely did their best, but I've always said I will not have a child until I'm... ready." | "[My parents] absolutely did their best, but I've always said I will not have a child until I'm... ready." |
| Kari, 34: I like the idea of adopting | Kari, 34: I like the idea of adopting |
| Kari and his partner Kaitlyn are putting off parenthood due to costs | Kari and his partner Kaitlyn are putting off parenthood due to costs |
| Kari Aaron Clark, a senior research fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering, earns £53,000 but feels he can't afford to raise a child in London. | Kari Aaron Clark, a senior research fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering, earns £53,000 but feels he can't afford to raise a child in London. |
| Four years ago, his salary was £22,000 while completing his PhD. | Four years ago, his salary was £22,000 while completing his PhD. |
| His partner Kaitlyn, who is currently a PhD student, is under similar financial strain. | His partner Kaitlyn, who is currently a PhD student, is under similar financial strain. |
| It means despite Kari's above-average salary, he has had less time to save for a property - something he thinks is essential before becoming a parent because of the "relatively insecure" nature of renting. | It means despite Kari's above-average salary, he has had less time to save for a property - something he thinks is essential before becoming a parent because of the "relatively insecure" nature of renting. |
| He also cites the costs of childcare. According to a recent report, external by children's charity Coram, the average weekly price for a full-time childcare place for children under three in the UK is about £300, compared with nearly £430 in inner London. | He also cites the costs of childcare. According to a recent report, external by children's charity Coram, the average weekly price for a full-time childcare place for children under three in the UK is about £300, compared with nearly £430 in inner London. |
| Kari says his views are shared by Kaitlyn - and they are both concerned about the effects of the climate crisis. | Kari says his views are shared by Kaitlyn - and they are both concerned about the effects of the climate crisis. |
| "I'm quite happy with the idea of adopting. That way I'm helping someone already struggling in the system," he says. | "I'm quite happy with the idea of adopting. That way I'm helping someone already struggling in the system," he says. |
| "I can adopt after they've got through the childcare stage." | "I can adopt after they've got through the childcare stage." |
| But despite his current pessimism about the viability of becoming a biological parent, Kari says he "wouldn't write it off". | But despite his current pessimism about the viability of becoming a biological parent, Kari says he "wouldn't write it off". |
| What does this mean for the future? | What does this mean for the future? |
| This all raises the question of what the future holds if fewer children are being born. | This all raises the question of what the future holds if fewer children are being born. |
| Declining fertility rates are not just about people delaying parenthood, but about a growing trend of people not having children, says Brienna Perelli-Harris, professor of demography at the University of Southampton. | Declining fertility rates are not just about people delaying parenthood, but about a growing trend of people not having children, says Brienna Perelli-Harris, professor of demography at the University of Southampton. |
| Data from the recent UK Generations and Gender Survey, external suggests that childless adults today are far less confident they will have children, with a quarter of 18 to 25-year-olds saying they would probably or definitely not have a child. | Data from the recent UK Generations and Gender Survey, external suggests that childless adults today are far less confident they will have children, with a quarter of 18 to 25-year-olds saying they would probably or definitely not have a child. |
| "Gen Z are more likely to want to stay childless," she says. "Before, it might have been more of a taboo - it's now more acceptable. | "Gen Z are more likely to want to stay childless," she says. "Before, it might have been more of a taboo - it's now more acceptable. |
| "And it's down to economic factors like future income, childcare costs and employment." | "And it's down to economic factors like future income, childcare costs and employment." |
| "In the long term... the population will start to shrink," Prof Perelli-Harris adds. | "In the long term... the population will start to shrink," Prof Perelli-Harris adds. |
| "If it gets to 1.3 [children per woman] - that's seen as very low and government should start getting concerned." | "If it gets to 1.3 [children per woman] - that's seen as very low and government should start getting concerned." |
| Concerns have previously been raised about shrinking fertility rates in countries where there's long been a downward trend, including the need for more young people to work as carers for an ageing population and pay tax. | Concerns have previously been raised about shrinking fertility rates in countries where there's long been a downward trend, including the need for more young people to work as carers for an ageing population and pay tax. |
| But populations can continue to grow for a long time after fertility falls below 2.1 children per woman, known as the replacement level - the number of children required to ensure a population replaces itself from one generation to the next - the ONS says, external. | But populations can continue to grow for a long time after fertility falls below 2.1 children per woman, known as the replacement level - the number of children required to ensure a population replaces itself from one generation to the next - the ONS says, external. |
| This is the case in the UK and other countries like Spain and Italy, where the fertility rate is even lower. | This is the case in the UK and other countries like Spain and Italy, where the fertility rate is even lower. |
| "Immigration can stall population decline or even reverse it," says Prof Perelli-Harris. | "Immigration can stall population decline or even reverse it," says Prof Perelli-Harris. |
| "I do not think we will see the UK population start to decline for the foreseeable future, although the ageing of the population will become even more pronounced." | "I do not think we will see the UK population start to decline for the foreseeable future, although the ageing of the population will become even more pronounced." |