With the country in lockdown in spring to curb the spread of Covid-19, some people have predicted a rise in the birth rate and a new baby boom. A Swiss newspaper points to a surge in pregnancy tests.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Sonntagsblick/swissinfo/sb
Español
es
¿Nacerán más niños en Suiza tras la crisis del coronavirus?
According to SonntagsBlick newspaper, there are strong indications that a coronavirus-induced baby boom may be underway.
“We have been experiencing a rush of pregnancy tests since the end of February,” Frank Marent, managing director of the online pharmacy McDrogerie.ch told the newspaper on July 19.
At the online site microspot.ch, more than three times as many pregnancy tests have been sold since the beginning of the lockdown compared to the same period last year.
And in April and June, the Coop supermarket also reported a high number of pregnancy tests sold in their branches and at the Coop pharmacy Vitality. The pharmacy chain Pura Vita said it had sold twice as many tests between mid-March and mid-July as in the previous year.
Sonntagsblick said Zurich’s Zollikerberg hospital had indicated a possible increase in the number of pregnancies.
“In our consultation hours, we have noticed a clear increase in the number of enquiries, with over 30% more pregnancy care being provided,” head physician Nadja Pauli told the Sunday paper.
The Swiss Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, meanwhile, was cautious. “Whether there is a baby boom will only be determined based on nationwide birth figures,” said Secretary General Thomas Eggimann.
“Stressed and worried”
However, some initial studies do not support the possibility of a lockdown baby boom.
A studyExternal link of data from a survey conducted among 18-34-year-olds in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK found that the effect of the pandemic on fertility intentions was negative.
And a separate studyExternal link of global sexual habits carried out by the Kinsey Institute from mid-March to mid-May found that nearly half of those surveyed said they had sex less frequently and enjoyed it less during the pandemic.
Justin Garcia, a sex researcher at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, told the Financial Times that he thought there would be no baby boom to show for those two months of lockdown.
“People report pretty high rates of feeling stressed and worried, and those are not psychological states conducive to sexuality,” he said.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss parliament wants to expand support for asbestos victims
This content was published on
The expansion of financial support for asbestos victims by the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund has cleared its first parliamentary hurdle.
Extra month of Swiss pension can be paid out from end of 2026
This content was published on
The 13th monthly pension payment can be paid out from December 2026. However, it has not yet been decided how it will be financed.
Addictions cause billions in damage in Switzerland
This content was published on
The alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries generate billions in revenue. At the same time, they cost the economy billions, according to Addiction Switzerland.
Swiss parliament moves closer to partial ban of tobacco ads
This content was published on
Tobacco advertising should be partially banned in the print media. On Monday the House of Representatives gave the go-ahead for restrictions on advertising, with some relaxations.
Online platforms and UBS in sights of Swiss price watchdog
This content was published on
With over 800 cases processed, including just under 400 recommendations, 2024 once again ended with a record number of cases for the Swiss price watchdog.
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
This content was published on
Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
This content was published on
Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.