The number of women who choose to freeze their eggs has tripled.

Motherhood is undergoing a profound transformation in Europe . More and more women are choosing to postpone having children, a trend driven by changes in lifestyles , the labor market , and family structures . However, this choice also entails new medical and biological challenges.

The average age for having a first child is now over 31 in countries such as Spain (31.6 years), Italy (31.8) and Ireland (31.6), according to Eurostat data. This trend is closely linked to the search for economic stability , professional development and the limited availability of effective work-life balance policies.

In Spain, the age at which women have their first child is above the European average (31.1). In fact, 39.8% of births registered in 2024 were to mothers over 35 years old . Furthermore, according to data from the National Statistics Institute ( INE ), the fertility rate stood at 1.19 children per woman in 2023, one of the lowest in the EU and far from the generational replacement rate (2.1).

On the other hand, fertility experts at Instituto Bernabeu estimate in a statement that nearly 20% of couples of reproductive age experience fertility problems . Currently, reproductive medicine helps a significant and growing number of people who want to have a child but are unable to do so naturally. More than 167,000 fertility cycles are performed each year, according to the latest SEF records, placing the country as a European leader in this field and accounting for almost 12% of births in Spain.

A recent European Union study identifies four key factors that explain the continent 's declining birth rate :

• Economic insecurity: Male unemployment and female job insecurity correlate with lower fertility rates.
• Insufficient work-life balance: Limited access to quality childcare services hinders reproductive decisions.
• Reduced financial support: Direct assistance, such as paid leave or financial transfers, has a limited effect.
• Personal factors: Age, educational level and expectations about motherhood have a decisive influence.

Delayed maternal age poses new medical challenges. As age advances, the quantity and quality of eggs decrease, which can make conception difficult and increase risks during pregnancy. “From the age of 35, a woman's ovarian reserve and egg quality decline significantly, affecting her ability to conceive naturally,” says Dr. Alicia Herencia, a gynecologist specializing in reproductive medicine and coordinator of the oocyte cryopreservation unit at Instituto Bernabeu.

“Women typically begin considering egg freezing after age 30, but ideally, it should be done earlier,” explains Dr. Herencia . “After age 35, the low quantity and quality of oocytes often requires repeat stimulation and extraction processes to achieve pregnancy. However, when this procedure is performed at younger ages , the treatment performance and success rates improve significantly , as ovarian response is better and a lower hormonal load is typically required to perform the stimulation process,” she explains. Furthermore, according to the Instituto Bernabeu specialist, more and more young women are considering freezing their eggs and are seeking information motivated by recent cases of infertility in friends or family members.

Among these options, oocyte cryopreservation has established itself as an increasingly popular alternative . This procedure allows eggs to be stored for future use, increasing many people's chances of conceiving with their eggs beyond the time dictated by the so-called biological clock . "Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen sustained growth in demand for this treatment, which has tripled in just a few years," adds Dr. Herencia. "This reflects a greater awareness of the importance of planning motherhood ahead of time , based on our individual needs."

Motherhood is undergoing a profound transformation in Europe . More and more women are choosing to postpone having children, a trend driven by changes in lifestyles , the labor market , and family structures . However, this choice also entails new medical and biological challenges.