HÀ NỘI – The country’s infertility rate currently stands at about 8 per cent of Vietnamese couples, experts say, indicating that infertility is a major task for the obstetrics and gynecology sector in Việt Nam.

Experts discussed the challenge at a two-day conference on obstetrics and gynecology organized by the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology that ended in Hà Nội yesterday.

The figure of 8 per cent means that at present one million Vietnamese couples are struggling with infertility.

Some provinces and city have high rates of infertility, such as Hà Nội (13 per cent) and the central coastal province of Khánh Hòa (14 per cent).

In addition, the rate of abortion among adolescents in Viet Nam is high, and many teenagers are desperate to keep their pregnancies secret from family and friends. This increases the risk that they will turn to unsafe or unlicenced practitioners, where one of the complications they may face is infertility. Studies show that abortions performed by doctors in safe, regulated facilities are not linked to infertility.

The latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that Việt Nam has one of the lowest fertility rates in the Asia-Pacific region

In the 2017-2020 period, the fertility rate of the region as a whole, including Việt Nam, is predicted to drop. Infertility may be contributing to the low birth rates.

Again, WHO predicts that infertility is the third most dangerous health problem for the world in the 21st century, following cancer and cardiovascular disease. Infertility is becoming more prevalent in Asian nations, including Việt Nam.

 At Tuesday’s conference, participants heard that the age of people suffering from infertility is gradually getting younger. The causes and solutions are complicated, putting a great deal of pressure on sufferers and their doctors.

Among the one million infertile Vietnamese couples, 50 per cent are under the age of 30.

The National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Infertility Department reported that 10 years ago, the department only received two to three couples per day with problems related to infertility. In 2015, the number had increased 20 times.

A health expert on infertility said the problem could stem from a variety of stressors, depression and individuals’ anxiety.

Infertility affects the population, economy and other social indicators. Therefore, health professionals are urged to address the critical problem.-- VNS