Implication of Low Fertility on Infertility in India

Attainment of low fertility in Indian states has shown remarkable convergence over the years. This welcomed change has always been discussed with the perspective of contraceptive use, increased age at marriage of females as well as urbanization and modernization. However, this experience is not without increase in the levels of infertility (primary as well as secondary) among Indian women. While primary infertility is on a rise in keeping with the declining fertility levels across indian states, this reflects in the levels of secondary infertility as well. There has been a remarkable rise in primary infertility levels in low fertility states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh when compared with other states which are expected to fall in line soon. The share of non- progression to higher parities beyond one seems to be around ten percent in the country as a whole. These figures for the low fertility states are to the extent of twenty five per cent. Hence, the achievement of low fertility is not merely because of control of fertility but due to failure in reproduction as well.