The Contribution of Infertility, Miscarriage and Abortion to the Individual Fertility Gap among Women in Germany

Jasmin Passet-Wittig , Bundesinstitut für Bevölkerungsforschung (BiB)
Nadja Milewski, Federal Institute for Population Research

This study investigates whether and to what extent adverse reproductive experiences contribute to women’s individual fertility gap – the difference between their desired (t0) and realized number of children (t10). Many women have adverse reproductive experiences during their childbearing years, and at the same time, many do not achieve the number of children they desire. While the contribution of social and economic factors to the fertility gap has been extensively studied, the role of infertility, miscarriage, and abortion, has received less attention. Using German panel data, we compare fertility desires and births of childless women and mothers aged 15-17, 25-27, and 35-37 at first observation and follow them for a decade. The average fertility gap declines with age and is larger among women without children than among parents. Multivariable analysis of the fertility gap by the three types of adverse experiences and controlling of partnership status, education and migration background, reveal associations mostly for parents. Mothers 35-37 years at first observation who experienced miscarriage in the observation window have an elevated risk of a fertility gap. Experience of abortion increases the risk of not realizing the desired number of children among mothers age 25-27 while perceived infertility decreases the risk in the same group. Overall, we find that the separate contribution of infertility, miscarriages, and abortions to the individual fertility gap vary depending on women’s life stage as reflected by age-parenthood constellations. This study highlights the complexity of women’s reproductive experiences and how these are intertwined, ultimately affecting realized fertility.

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 Presented in Session P2. Families, Fertility, and the Life Course 2