33. Falling Birth Rates
Chapter 33 from "Castrated in the womb - every man a guinea pig"
Birth rates are falling rapidly worldwide, least of all in equatorial Africa and most dramatically in industrialized nations. 2023 the birth rate reached a historic low in Switzerland, with the Federal Statistical Office citing financial concerns and fears about the future as reasons, but not the fertility crisis [266].
In general, many demographic discussions are conducted without reference to biology. In his new book “No One Left,” leading British demographer Paul Morland even negates biological reasons, arguing that in most cases, men's sperm counts are still sufficient for reproduction [267]. As a biologist, one can only wonder about this, since it must impair reproduction if erectile dysfunction increases due to testosterone deficiency (chapter 30-A) and, at the same time, sexual interest decreases (chapter 30-B), turns to the same sex, or disappears altogether.
Endocrine disruptors not only impair the reproductive capacity of men, but also that of women [153], and as a result, even the desire to have children remains unfulfilled for one in six couples, as Prof. Leeners, Director of the Clinic for Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital of Zurich, notes. Like Prof. Swan, she predicts serious reproductive problems from 2050 onwards, if not sooner [145]. Reproductive medicine can counteract this to some extent, but, as mentioned above, it leads to the transmission and accumulation of subfertile genes, which will further reduce reproductive success in the long term [6].
Of course, there are many factors contributing to the decline in birth rates: in the US, liberals have fewer children than regular churchgoers or Republicans [267], which is a bad omen for liberalism. Contraception is used and opens up emancipation and life opportunities for women outside the home and motherhood. Once they have completed their education and become independent, they are no longer satisfied with just any partner. Or having children is postponed until after education and establishment in a career, when it is no longer always possible [268]. Being single and childless is socially acceptable. The care of an increasing number of older pensioners is a burden on the working generation, so that sometimes the means to raise a new generation are lacking.
In the next chapter 34 we will discuss some consequences for old age pensions and economy. And this link takes you to the start of the book.
The German edition of this book can be ordered e.g. here.
145. Wiget, Y., M. Lutz, and M. Brupbacher, Weltweiter Rückgang bei Geburten ist laut Forschern unumkehrbar – woran das liegt. Tages-Anzeiger Zürich, 16.4.2024. https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/geburten-weltweiter-rueckgang-laut-forschern-unumkehrbar-544070848724.
266. Keystone/SDA Deutlicher Geburtenrückgang in der Schweiz. 2023. https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/deutlicher-geburtenrueckgang-in-der-schweiz/48905120.
267. Morland, P., No one left. 2024: Swift Press; 9781800754102.
268. Rodrigues, S.L. Sinkende Geburtenrate: Wie veränderte Werte zur Verschiebung des Kinderwunsches führen. Data-driven journalism @ IPZ/UZH, 2024. https://pwiweb.uzh.ch/wordpress/blog/2024/09/09/sinkende-geburtenrate-wie-veraenderte-werte-zur-verschiebung-des-kinderwunsches-fuehren/.