New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the U.S. fertility rate dropped to the lowest level on record last year. The news is sparking a lot of conversation — and a lot of questions. Is the decline driven by biology, culture or policy? What can be done? And what does this complex issue mean for Oregon, Washington and beyond?

Dr. Paula Amato and Dr. Ethan Sharygin were guests on this week's episode of Straight Talk to help break down some of the answers to those questions.

Amato is a professor of OBGYN and division head of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at OHSU, as well as a specialist at Spring Fertility in Portland. Sharygin is the director of Portland State University's Population Research Center, with expertise in mortality and longevity forecasting, evaluating the quality of census data and the demographic consequences of disasters.

The U.S. birthrate in 2024 was 1.6 births per woman of reproductive age. The decline is part of a long-term trend, Sharygin said, first among teens and women in their 20s, and later among women at older ages. The Oregon rate used to be close to the national average, but has declined even faster in the past 15 years and is now about 1.4 — and even lower in urban areas like Portland.