Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam’sinfertility rate currently stands at about 8 percent of couples, experts say,indicating that infertility is a major task for the obstetrics and gynecologysector in the country.

Experts discussed the challenge at a recent two-day conference on obstetricsand gynecology organised by the National Hospital of Obstetrics andGynecology in Hanoi.

The figure of 8 percent means that at present one million Vietnamese couplesare struggling with infertility.

Some provinces and city have high rates of infertility, such as Hanoi (13 percent)and the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa (14 percent).

In addition, the rate of abortion among adolescents in Vietnam is high,and many teenagers are desperate to keep their pregnancies secret from familyand friends.

This increases the risk that they will turn to unsafe orunlicenced practitioners, where one of the complications they may face isinfertility. Studies show that abortions performed by doctors in safe, regulatedfacilities are not linked to infertility.

The latest statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that Vietnamhas one of the lowest fertility rates in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the 2017-2020 period, the fertility rate of the region as a whole, includingVietnam, is predicted to drop. Infertility may be contributing to the low birthrates.

Again, WHO predicts that infertility is the third most dangerous health problemfor the world in the 21st century, following cancer and cardiovascular diseases.Infertility is becoming more prevalent in Asian nations, including Vietnam.

At the conference, participants heard that the age of people suffering frominfertility is gradually getting younger. The causes and solutions arecomplicated, putting a great deal of pressure on sufferers and their doctors.

Among the one million infertile Vietnamese couples, 50 percent are under theage of 30.

The National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Infertility Departmentreported that 10 years ago, the department only received two to three couplesper day with problems related to infertility. In 2015, the number had increased20 times.

A health expert on infertility said the problem could stem from a variety ofstressors, depression and individuals’ anxiety.

Infertility affects the population, economy and other social indicators.Therefore, health professionals are urged to address the critical problem.-VNA