Article Questions

Question 1

What is the difference between the general fertility rate and the total fertility rate in a population?

Answer 1

general fertility rate
- measures number of women 15-24 who have live births per year for every 1000 women

total fertility rate
- estimated average of how many children a woman is expected to have during the time she is able to reproduce

Question 2

How do the fertility rates in the United States compare to the fertility rates in Canada?

Answer 2

• fertility rate in U.S was 1.6 births per woman in 2023, sharp decline from 2 birth s per woman in 2001
• in 2022 Canada, fertility rate was 1.33 births per woman, lowest ever recorded

Both countries are below the replacement level of 2

Question 3

How does family planning (e.g., age at which people choose to have children) influence fertility?

Answer 3

• older age raises concern for infetility and disorders that may result in the child
• lifetime repetition of oocyte atresia results in half a million developing eggs in a woman at puberty, decreasing by 50% at 37
• in addition, FSH levels escalate while AMD and inhibin B decrease reflecting drop of egg quality
• for males older age results in inability to make more feasible sperm

Question 4

What health trends might be reducing fertility rates in Canada and the United States (and other countries)?

Answer 4

Obesity/Metabolic Disorders
- disrupts hormonal balance, ovulation and sperm quality

Pregnancy at Older Ages
- linked to lower sperm and egg quality, less availability of eggs

Question 5

What are endocrine disrupters? Give two specific examples of these chemicals, and give a source of them in our environment.

Answer 5

Chemicals that interfere the endocrine system by mimicing or blocking effects of hormones
- affect reproduction, growth and development

Bisphenol A (BPA): found in plastic containers and food packaging

Phthalates: found in cosmetics, plastics and personal care products