I will try to clarify -
It grinds my goat whenever I hear someone use the tired expression about women 'we're not just baby making machines' - because soon as you tell a woman she can't have a baby, it's the end of the world. It's hardwired into our DNA to reproduce, it affects every decision a woman makes from adolescence onwards, either consciously or unconsciously whether they squizz a sprog out their front bottoms or not.
It's why we spend so much money on IVF, surrogates, adoption, hormone therapies and other medical techniques for older women, etc.
However, you are correct, since the 1990s 1 in 4 British women of child bearing age have decided not to give birth. Similarly the number of people getting married or even living together has also dropped significantly. We appear to have entered an age where people would rather be sat alone, surrounded by expensive things then have children. All good for the cat breeders though. Cha-Ching!
