Successful Conception and Timely Parenthood in Germany

Shalini Singh , University of Vienna
Ester Lazzari, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital
Eva Beaujouan, University of Vienna (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital)

The act of 'attempting to conceive' not only signifies a positive intent to have a child but also reflects the degree of certainty of this intent through concrete actions. While there exists a body of research on TTP (Time to Pregnancy), many studies have predominantly focused on biological determinants of conception or have been constrained by small sample sizes, limiting the generalizability of their findings to the broader population. Using data from the German Family Panel (pairfam), this study explores the factors associated with successful conception/childbirth among both men and women. Employing a pooled binary logistic model, we investigate how socio-demographic, reproductive, and behavioural factors impact the likelihood of pregnancy. Our findings emphasize the critical role of age and parity for both genders, with advancing age diminishing the prospects of pregnancy and higher parity increasing the odds of successful conception. Other variables, such as education level, relationship satisfaction, sexual frequency, and health status are also significantly associated with the likelihood of conception, but they present different effects based on gender. Furthermore, this study reveals the significance of additional determinants, including body mass index (BMI), contraceptive history, previous miscarriage, and perceived fertility status. These insights offer valuable guidance for individuals and healthcare practitioners navigating the complex journey to parenthood.

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 Presented in Session P1. Fertility, Family, Life Course