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- Demographic disruption: Russians have become more likely to be diagnosed with infertility
Demographic disruption: Russians have become more likely to be diagnosed with infertility
The number of first-time infertility diagnoses has been increasing in Russia for several years. According to the latest open data from Rosstat, in 2024 it was detected in 245.8 women (+5.5% by 2020) and in 32.7 thousand men (+6.9%). Combined infertility is common, meaning that both men and women have problems in a couple, the reproductologists said. One of the reasons for the decrease in fertility was taking medications, including antidepressants, the Ministry of Health said. According to research data, their sales in the country have been steadily growing since 2021.
The growing number of infertility patients
According to Rosstat, the number of people diagnosed with infertility has been growing for five years — from 2020 to 2024. This applies to both men and women.
So, among men, the incidence increased by almost 7%, Izvestia calculated: in 2020, 30.6 thousand diagnoses were made, and in 2024, 32.7 thousand. For women, this figure is 232.9 and 245.8 thousand, respectively (+5.5%).
However, according to Natalia Dolgushina, the chief freelance specialist of the Ministry of Health for women's reproductive health, the prevalence of infertility has remained stable over the past ten years and averages 7.8 cases per 1,000 women aged 18 to 49 years.
"There may be slight fluctuations in the indicator, for example, in 2019 it was 8.5, and in 2024 it was 7.8," she said.
The discrepancy in the statistical data of the two departments may be explained by different calculation methodologies, Maria Tverdikova, a reproductologist at the Fomin Clinic, explained to Izvestia.
— Some tables reflect the incidence (that is, the number of new cases of the disease over a certain period. — Ed.), others — prevalence (the total number of cases, both new and previously diagnosed. — Ed.), and still others — patients (people receiving medical care for a specific disease. — Ed.). There may be a situation when the indicator is growing in one array, and decreasing in the other," Tverdikova noted.
At the same time, an increase in the number of diagnoses does not automatically mean an increase in the actual loss of fertility, the doctor added.
"Part of this dynamic is explained by the fact that couples are seeking help more often, examinations are becoming more accessible, assisted reproductive technologies are being used more widely, and the topic itself is no longer taboo," said Maria Tverdikova.
According to Maria Milyutina, a reproductologist at the Mother and Child clinic, infertile couples are increasing all over the world: 20 years ago, 15% of spouses were diagnosed with the disease, and now the figure is approaching 19%.
— This is due not only to the deterioration of health, but also to the fact that pregnancy is planned at a later age.: The older the partners are, the more often they have problems," she said.
How is the disease diagnosed in the regions?
The trend of increasing morbidity was confirmed to Izvestia in the Sakhalin region. If in 2020 there were isolated cases of male infertility, in 2025 it was already 0.2 per 1,000 men of fertile age. And among women, this figure has increased by 56% in five years, from 4.3 in 2020 to 6.7 in 2024.
Growth was also recorded in the Kostroma region. In 2023, 93 women were registered for infertility there, 138 in 2024, and 164 in 2025.
From 2020 to 2025, there were 2.5 times more infertile men in the Penza region, the local Ministry of Health said. At the same time, the peak occurred in 2024, when 1.3 thousand residents of the region were diagnosed with infertility, although in other periods this figure did not exceed 119. At the same time, there were 15% fewer infertile women in the region.
In the Vladimir region, the opposite is true: in five years, the incidence among women has increased by 91%, while among men it has decreased by 19%, Izvestia estimates.
There are regions where infertility rates are decreasing for both men and women. These are Saratov, Arkhangelsk, Ivanovo, Kurgan regions and Udmurtia.
Regional differences in male and female infertility may reflect the availability of doctors of a narrower specialty — reproductologists and andrologists, Maria Tverdikova explained.
What are the causes of the problem?
Partners who cannot conceive a child during a year of regular sexual activity without contraception are considered infertile. According to Natalia Dolgushina, this diagnosis is made specifically for a couple.
Oleg Apolikhin, the chief freelance specialist of the Ministry of Health for men's reproductive health, told Izvestia that, in addition to purely medical reasons, the development of infertility can be influenced by lifestyle features, ecology, and the psychosomatic state of the patient. In particular, these are obesity, chronic stress and overwork, and bad habits.
The expert identified taking certain medications as one of the reasons.
"Some antidepressants, antipsychotics, and chemotherapeutic agents reduce sperm quality and disrupt hormonal regulation,— Oleg Apolikhin noted.
The Ministry of Health of the Penza region explained that the effect of antidepressants on fertility depends on the type of drug. Thus, drugs from the SSRI group (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can increase the fragmentation of sperm DNA, which reduces their ability to fertilize, affects the quality of embryos and can lead to termination of pregnancy.
"Such drugs can cause sexual dysfunctions: decreased libido, problems with ejaculation," the department clarified.
At the same time, according to the analytical company DSM Group, sales of antidepressants in Russia have been steadily growing since 2021: if 7.9 million packages were sold in 2020, then 22.3 million in 2025. This trend has continued this year, with sales up 22% in the first quarter, Izvestia reported.
Is infertility curable
According to Maria Milyutina, a purely male factor is detected in about 25% of cases, and a purely female factor in 35%. About 30% more are due to combined infertility, when both partners are diagnosed. And in about 10% of cases, no obvious causes can be identified.
According to the expert, in order to prevent infertility, it is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle, plan a first pregnancy before the age of 40 and limit the number of partners in order to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
According to Maria Tverdikova, after proper treatment, many couples manage to conceive and give birth to a healthy child.
Infertility is not a sentence, but a condition that in the vast majority of cases can be overcome, including through assisted reproduction methods such as IVF, ICSI (a method of infertility treatment in which a sperm is manually inserted into an egg. — Ed.). When indicated, donor programs and surrogacy can be used," Tverdikova concluded.
Starting in 2024, Russia began conducting medical examinations of men and women aged 18 to 49 years to assess their reproductive health. In addition, children and adolescents are being prophylactically examined. They are also implementing measures to reduce the number of abortions that cause secondary infertility, Oleg Apolikhin added.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
