Assisted reproductive technology: the fallback option?
Lixia Qu and Ruth Weston
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Contact Email:   Ruth.Westonaifs.gov.au

Louise Brown, the world’s first 'IVF baby' was born 27 years ago. Since then, assisted reproductive technology (ART) has advanced rapidly, as has its use. Indeed, the number of treatments has almost doubled over the past decade. While the burgeoning demand for ART partly results from the trend towards postponing parenthood, advancements in ART may themselves encourage delays in attempts to start a family - assuming these advancements provide couples with confidence that such delays will not translate into childlessness. This paper draws on data from the Fertility Decision Making Project (undertaken by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in collaboration with the Australian Government Office for Women) to examine the views held by partnered respondents in their twenties and thirties regarding ART. In particular, socio-demographic factors linked with respondents’ preparedness to use ART and their level of optimism about its likely success are examined.

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