MYTHBUSTER SERIES
Setting the record straight
Short, evidence-backed reads that check widely repeated claims against the research.
MYTHBUSTER INDEX
Six common myths about having children
The common wisdom about fertility, age and family size doesn’t hold up. Click any myth to see what the evidence says.
Sources: Wynes & Nicholas 2017 · HFEA 2024 · Southampton fertility age-gap study · UN population projections 2024
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Men face a decline in sperm count and quality as they age, and older fathers are more likely to have children with disorders.
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The average UK age gap is only 2–3 years; gaps over 10 years are very uncommon.
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A 90% chance of having 3 children without IVF requires starting at age 23. Infertility risk rises 36% between 30 and 35.
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Success rates are around 1 in 6 for ages 40–42, and under 1 in 10 for 43–44.
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The original claim used outdated, peak-era emissions data. Updated for current trends, restoring replacement fertility adds just 0.05°C by 2200.
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Models and research show we can sustainably feed 10 billion+ people, above current population forecasts.
THE SERIES
Latest mythbusters
01 · ARTICLE
Having kids won’t hurt the planet
A once-viral statistic has scared a generation into smaller families. Here’s what newer research actually shows.
02 · ARTICLE
Can men just delay and marry younger? The data says no
Men are rarely told they’re on a clock. Here’s why waiting for a younger partner isn’t a plan.
03 · ARTICLE
Falling fertility isn’t about falling desire to have kids
People still want families. Here’s why so many end up with fewer children than they intended.
04 · ARTICLE
Sperm counts aren’t behind falling fertility
The global drop in fertility has a number of causes, but rising biological infertility (infecundity) is not one.