Reasons to have children (or not)

When is the right time to have children? The truth is there are many factors both within and outside of our control can influence this decision. From fearing the loss of freedom to lack of job stability and financial resources, the barriers to motherhood today are multiple and not always mutually exclusive.

This section of our research aimed to illustrate different perspectives on motherhood and family planning from women who have children, women who want children and women who are childless by choice.

Key Data

1 in 5 women (20.9%) haven’t had children because they don’t want to lose their freedom and time

Nearly half (42.6%) of reasons for delaying having kids due to work, such as difficulty achieving a work-life balance (21.3%) or their or their partner’s work circumstances (20.8%)

More than 1 in 4 women (27.2%) who are childless by choice have not had children due to the current state of the world

Over a third of women (33.8%) delayed their plans to have children due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Nearly a quarter of women (24.2%) haven’t had children due to not having a partner, or not having found the right one yet

Difficulties of family planning?

From the realities of modern dating to demanding professional lives, many things affect when, and if, women decide to have children. What is clear from our research is that this decision is by no means straightforward.

Dr Mireia Galian, Senior IVF Consultant at IVI London

“We may prioritise owning a house, leisure, professional career, finding the right partner, studies… It’s completely fine to have these choices.”