Can IVF help to reverse the trend of low fertility in Western societies?

Gijs Beets, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
Dik Habbema, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
Egbert R. te Velde, Utrecht University
Marinus Eijkemans, Erasmus Medical Center Department of Public Health
Henri Leridon, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Geeta Nargund, St George's Hospital and Medical School Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

It has been suggested to enlarge IVF practice in order to raise the fertility rates of those who would possibly not have children otherwise. Such an IVF policy would then enhance low fertility countries in their challenges to overcome population ageing. However, does such a policy realy help? A scenario model shows outcomes informing us that the rise in fertility is only very small, and moreover include some serious side effects.