Young Danes have little to no knowledge about what reduces the chances of having kids, according to a new survey from the national environmental protection agency Miljøstyrelsen.
The survey showed that 80 percent of young people underestimated how much of an effect their lifestyles had on their fertility. Young men were particularly ignorant about the subject.
“It’s probably not the ability to have kids that is the most pressing issue for upper-secondary students, but their lifestyle today can make it more difficult to have kids later in life,” said the environment and food minister, Eva Kjer Hansen.
READ MORE: More older women giving birth in Denmark
MaybeBaby to enlighten
The list of factors that can make it more difficult to have children is long and includes age, drugs, sexual diseases and endocrine disrupters. Age is the most important factor – it is much easier for women to have kids in their mid-20s compared to their mid-30s.
In collaboration with the Health and Elderly Ministry, Hansen has launched new educational material, ‘MaybeBaby’, in a bid to provide young people with more knowledge about the issue. The new material will be available on Maybebaby.dk from today.
“In Denmark, one out of every 12 children are born thanks to fertility treatment, so I want to provide youngsters with information about what influences fertility,” said Hansen.
