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Combating the Overpopulation – New Frontier in the Gynecology and Obstetrics

Jan Gregus

Overpopulation exacerbates environmental and health problems, from climate change to biodiversity loss and pandemics. It is the “upstream” driver of numerous existential threats. Addressing this compassionately – always – should be axiomatic for doctors. Our profession, by dramatically reducing death-rates since the 1800s while birth-rates remained high, sadly bears – unintendedly – some responsibility for the increase: one billion then, eight billion looming.

Therefore, as doctors, especially the ones in the field of gynecology and obstetrics, we must surely be uniquely motivated to: be involved in rights-based policies and services with unbroken supply chains ensuring optimal contraceptive care being available to all couples worldwide, remove well-known tangible (contraceptives unavailable) and intangible (cultural, religious and mis-informational) barriers to women’s choice to access family planning everywhere, while achieving full gender equity, especially in education, (3) warn how overpopulation risks all planetary life, through optimal environmental education both for colleagues and the public, and campaign for a maximum of two children (replacement fertility – or less) on principle.