Infertility Crisis Hits Gen Z & Millennials

Even as doctors and people across the world gear up to mark World IVF Day (July 25), fertility specialists across India are sounding the alarm over an unsettling trend: Rising infertility rates among women and men in their late 20s and early 30s. This demographic — previously considered to be in the prime of reproductive health — is now facing fertility issues that were once reserved for those closer to their 40s.

Doctors and researchers are reporting a growing number of cases of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) among young women, a condition where the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries are lower than expected for their age. Meanwhile, male infertility is quietly escalating, fuelled by environmental, lifestyle, and biological stressors.

The Fallacy of Time

For decades, women were told they had time — until 35, at least. That assumption is rapidly becoming obsolete. According to Dr Mandavi Rai, Senior Fertility & IVF Specialist at Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Noida, young women are now routinely presenting with low levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a marker of egg reserve.

“Many women in their late 20s and early 30s now have unexpectedly low ovarian reserves. This is due to a mix of environmental toxins, chronic stress, and what we now understand to be accelerated ovarian aging,” says Dr. Rai. “We need to normalize early fertility screenings and egg freezing conversations — much earlier than we currently do.”

The increasing diagnosis of DOR at such a young age is changing the very foundation of how reproductive medicine is practiced. Doctors are emphasizing that fertility health isn’t just about age —it’s about biology, and biology doesn’t always read the calendar.

The Male Factor

Male infertility, too, is emerging from the shadows. Once overlooked in the cultural and medical conversation around childbearing, male reproductive health is now under scrutiny — and the numbers aren’t promising. Fertility specialists note a steady rise in low sperm count, poor motility, and hormone-related imbalances among young men.

Dr. Rinky Balani, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility in Mumbai, links this shift to poor lifestyle habits and unchecked environmental exposure. “Men are showing lower sperm counts and declining motility because of prolonged exposure to air pollution, stress, and processed foods. Even daily plastic use has long-term effects on hormonal health,” she notes.

Lifestyle Collapse

What is fuelling the decline? The root of the crisis lies in the collision between modern life and human biology. Sedentary jobs, processed diets, pollution, and chronic stress are disrupting hormonal regulation in both men and women. Gen Z and Millennials are living in a world of constant pressure — academic, professional, and social — which is quietly damaging their reproductive systems.

“Endocrine disruptors in plastics, exposure to heavy metals in urban environments, even long-term screen exposure at night—these all add up,” says Dr Rai. “We are seeing hormonal profiles that are completely out of sync for the patient’s age.”

Social trends are also part of the problem. Delayed parenthood, while often a choice rooted in financial or career goals, brings its own biological risks. Many couples are unaware fertility naturally declines with age, and by the time they seek help, the options are fewer and costlier.

Technology Is Not a Guarantee

While Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) offers hope, it’s not a silver bullet. Doctors stress that IVF is not a universal solution and must be approached as part of a broader fertility strategy.

“Fertility health is more than IVF. We first attempt simpler, less invasive treatments depending on the patient’s diagnosis — like IUI or even timed intercourse,” says Dr Balani. “We only recommend IVF or ICSI when the situation warrants it. People need to understand that not every infertility problem is fixable with technology alone.”

Prevention Over Cure

What’s becoming increasingly clear is the need for proactive fertility care. Doctors are urging both men and women to get fertility screenings earlier—sometimes even before they plan to have children.

Daily exercise, clean eating, reduced toxin exposure, and stress management aren’t just good health advice—they’re critical fertility tools. Egg and sperm preservation, once seen as extreme, are now being discussed as routine options for those at risk of early decline.

“Reproductive planning needs to start before symptoms appear,” says Dr Aastha Bansal, a fertility counsellor based in Delhi. “We're no longer dealing with infertility at 40. We're treating it at 28.”

Time for a Wake-Up Call

The IVF story is no longer just about hope for older couples — it’s about a changing reality for young adults. World IVF Day 2025 is not just a celebration of medical advancement, but also a moment to confront an uncomfortable truth: fertility decline is getting younger, and the reasons behind it are baked into the very lives we lead. Until the conversation moves from reactive treatment to early education and prevention, Gen Z and Millennials will continue to rewrite the fertility story — but not always by choice.