A senior medical analyst for Fox News is facing intense public scrutiny after characterizing the historic decline in U.S. teenage birth rates as a “problem” contributing to the nation’s plummeting fertility levels.
The remarks by Dr. Marc Siegel come as newly released preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that the U.S. general fertility rate hit a record low in 2025. The rate dropped to 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44, a 1% decline from 2024 and a staggering 23% decrease since 2007.
During an April 10 news segment, Siegel pointed to the 70% decline in fertility among ages 15–19 over the last two decades as a primary driver of the demographic shift.
“The problem is teens and young adults,” Siegel stated, suggesting that societal messaging encourages young people to delay parenthood until they achieve financial or emotional stability.
The clip quickly went viral, amassing over 2 million views and triggering a wave of condemnation. Critics argue that framing the reduction of teen pregnancy—long a goal of public health initiatives—as a negative outcome is a regressive stance. Social media users noted that the decline in teen births allows young women to prioritize education and career development rather than facing the economic hardships often associated with early parenthood.
While teen births have plummeted, the CDC report highlights a distinct shift in when Americans are choosing to start families. Fertility rates for women aged 30–34 rose by 3% in 2025, even as rates for younger cohorts fell.
Despite this slight increase in older age groups, the total fertility rate currently sits at 1.56, well below the 2.1 replacement level required for a population to remain stable without immigration.
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Economists and health experts suggest the reasons for the “baby bust” are multifaceted, spanning biological, social, and economic barriers:
- Economic Pressures: Skyrocketing housing costs and the high price of childcare have made the “option” to have children less desirable or financially impossible for many.
- Social Shifts: Increased job market competitiveness and a prioritization of higher education have delayed the traditional timeline for family building.
- Health and Environment: Rising rates of obesity, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis—coupled with environmental factors—continue to impact biological fertility.
Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College, noted that the modern landscape offers “greater and more demanding job market opportunities,” which has shifted the perceived value of parenthood in a competitive economy.
As the debate over Siegel’s comments continues, the data remains clear: the American family structure is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by a complex web of economic necessity and evolving social values.
