Single Motherhood: A Rise in Choices for Women Without Partners

In a shifting landscape of family dynamics, an increasing number of women across the United States are choosing to become mothers without partners. Enhanced access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) has fostered this trend, empowering women to take control of their reproductive choices even as they prioritize career goals and personal aspirations.

Why It Matters

This change reflects broader societal shifts in attitudes toward motherhood and family structure. With 44% of American women currently unpartnered, there’s a growing narrative that parenthood need not be tied to traditional relationships. As more women embrace single motherhood by choice, it reshapes the understanding of family and challenges societal norms.

Key Developments

• Increase in Single Motherhood: The number of unmarried women giving birth in their 40s has surged by 250% over the past 30 years.
• IVF as a Pathway: IVF accounts for nearly 100,000 births annually in the U.S., with usage increasing significantly.
• Demographics: Women with higher education levels are more likely to pursue IVF, seeking to create families on their own terms.
• Mental and Emotional Impact: Challenges persist for these mothers, particularly in balancing work-life demands and societal perceptions.

Full Report

The Journey of Choice

Laura Terry, a 44-year-old management consultant from Nashville, Tennessee, exemplifies this new breed of single mothers. After deciding at 39 to start a family without a partner, she successfully conceived through IVF, welcoming two daughters, Eleanor and Margaret. “It was like a light bulb went off,” she reflected on her discovery of single motherhood as an option.

This realization resonates with many women today. Sociologist Rosanna Hertz notes that women increasingly prioritize education and career before considering family. For many, the late realization of limited partner availability leads to decisions like IVF as a "Plan B."

Empowered Motherhood

Terry meticulously navigated her motherhood journey, using spreadsheets to map her decisions regarding family planning and donor selection. Her experiences underscore a growing trend where financial independence and career success provide women the agency to pursue motherhood on their own terms. Despite the joys, both Terry and other mothers like Kate Snyder, now 48 and also a mother through IVF, acknowledge the physical and emotional challenges parenting presents. Snyder remarked on the unexpected intensity of motherhood, especially in her 40s.

Financial Burdens

IVF is not an inexpensive option, often costing between $15,000 and $30,000 per cycle, leading many women to deplete savings or go into debt. Some employers, including major corporations, offer partial coverage for IVF, though only about a quarter of companies with over 200 employees do so. Efforts to make the technology more accessible received attention from government officials, including proposals from former President Trump aimed at lowering drug costs related to IVF.

Societal Perceptions

Despite the rising prevalence of single mothers, societal acceptance lags behind. Terry recalls an uncomfortable encounter with a neighbor who expressed pity over her family’s structure. Such moments raise questions about societal readiness to embrace diverse family forms.

Context & Previous Events

Since the birth of the first IVF baby in 1981, advancements in reproductive technology have transformed parenthood accessibility, particularly for older women and those in non-traditional relationships. The increase in births among unmarried women and the viability of IVF have significant implications for family structures and societal norms in the United States today.