According to a survey involving more than 30,000 young people in 12 European countries, the desire for parenthood remains alive among European youth, but is no longer unanimous.

More than two in three (67%) consider themselves well-informed about fertility, a figure lower than the literacy level they say they have about contraceptive methods (80%), a difference that reflects a gap in reproductive education, especially given that less than half (49%) said they had discussed these topics with a healthcare professional.

The data collected indicates that 33% say they have little or no information about the factors that influence their ability to become pregnant.

Seven in ten believe that access to fertility preservation techniques—such as egg or sperm cryopreservation—at a younger age would allow them to decide more independently if and when they want to have children, and 77% argue that these options should be more publicly discussed to combat stigma.

Over the past four years, the Future Barometer, developed by Merck, has sought to understand the expectations and concerns of younger generations about the future of Europe, including topics such as health, innovation, sustainability, and parenting.