The financial crisis plaguing Greece is now affecting motherhood as well. A recent global research study has revealed that birth rates are rapidly declining lately in Greece and this trend is attributed to the financial difficulties directly affecting the lives of young couples.
Birth rates have dropped by 10%, which only adds to the demographic problem of the country.
“Fertility and motherhood are very important aspects of our society and human existence” pointed out Dr. Vasilis Tarlatzis, midwifery and gynecology Professor in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Referring to the findings of the study, Mr. Tarlatzis pointed out that one out of six couples in Europe are facing conception problems, which equals to about 80 million people experiencing subfertility or even infertility.
Alone in 2003, the general rate of fertility within the EU fell at 1.47 births of living fetuses per woman.
Subfertility rates are rising because women are postponing reproduction and birth due to financial or professional reasons (aside from medical problems).
According to experts, different medical treatments are proposing a solution to subfertility. However, these treatments are too expensive for Greek couples, rendering the decision of having children even more distant.
“Social insurance funds are changing their policy lines. In Greece for example, IKA is covering 90% of the pharmaceutical costs, which is quite a help to those couples wishing to undergo a fertility treatment” stressed out Mr. Tarlatzis
“However, there is much to be done yet in covering some of the costs of medical-laboratory tests. A relative bill is underway. The financial crisis is a real and harsh problem. Yet the money needed to finance fertility treatments is less than the expected advantages to be witnessed in the future” concluded Mr. Tarlatzis.
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