[epihelix]

In this modern world where highly effective birth control is cheap and straightforward, we really need to stop equating fertility rates with levels of sexual activity. You can have plenty of sex and not have a child; you can have very little sex and have a substantial number of children.

It's fascinating to me how personal choice never seems to enter into these discussions, even in relatively highly educated, first-world democracies. I actively chose to not have kids -- it was not an accidental by-product of iphones or any other proposed environmental factor.

[swat535]

Unless you have surgically implemented birth control (such as vasectomy), the pregnancy chance logically increases with higher rate of sexual activity with multiple partners.

Mistakes happen. Birth control is not 100% effective.. condoms break, women forget to take the pill, etc.

Of course it goes without saying you have a much higher chance of pregnancy if you're not using any form of birth control.

[XorNot]

Thank you I was about to post this.

The most absolutely infuriating thing about fertility rate discussions is the conclusion everyone draws of "obviously people aren't having enough sex".

I was sexually active for over 15 years before having exactly 1 child when I decided to.

The limiting factor in the number of children I have has at no point been the frequency of intercourse itself.