THE INFERTILITY TRAP, AITKEN, PAPERBACK, 1ST EDITION

Professor John Aitken's award-winning book discusses the universal decline in human fertility, the factors causing this, and the social, political, environmental and lifestyle changes needed to reduce the severity of what is about to come.

A potential fertility crisis looms as societies become more affluent and average family size is reduced, weakening pressure on high-fertility genes. The IVF industry further exacerbates this, while male fertility is declining due to genetic, environmental and additional factors. Unless we address this issue, we may be unable to stem the tide of a mounting population decline. The Infertility Trap explores the effects of modern life on fertility, and what medical, social, environmental and behavioural changes could help.

Professor Aitken, who arrived from the University of Edinburgh to take up a Chair in Biological Sciences at the University of Newcastle in 1999, is now a leader of a 50-strong research team studying fertility and contraception, which has attracted almost $50 million in funding. In 2021, Professor John Aitken was awarded the Clarke Medal.