A study has shown that Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and obesity are the biggest health barriers to fertility among Maldivians.

In a study titled "Socio-Economic Drivers of Low Fertility in the Maldives", doctors said PCOS, obesity and vitamin D deficiency are the biggest obstacles to fertility.

PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age, often starting during adolescence. It is characterized by irregular periods, excess androgens (male hormones), and enlarged ovaries with fluid-filled sacs (follicles).

According to the study, cesarean sections and infertility are the biggest causes of advanced maternal age. Dangerous abortions also have a significant impact on fertility, according to doctors who spoke in the study, which was conducted jointly by UNFPA and the Maldives National University (MNU).

Other previous studies have shown that the incidence of cesarean sections in the Maldives is unusually high. The national cesarean rate should be between 10 percent and 15 percent. However, about 40 percent of women who give birth in the Maldives have a cesarean section.

The Maldives' fertility rate has fallen sharply over the past 32 years. Thirty-five years ago, in 1990, the average woman had six children. However, by 2022, the figure had dropped to 1.7.

Financial challenges and housing shortages were the main reasons highlighted in the study for the reluctance to have more children. The study participants expressed interest in building a large family if the two issues were resolved.

Fifty-six percent of the women interviewed in the study did not want to have any more children. The majority of the participants said that they prefer a family with children, but most people do not have three children.