Choice, circumstance, health and the perceived benefits all play a part in deciding whether to have children. We’d like you to share your experiences

Are you one of the growing number of people without children? Tell us why

The number of women in the UK and US not having children is at an all-time high. American women without children between the ages 15-44 increased from 35% in 1976 to 47% in 2010. We’d like you to share your reasons for not having children, and we’ll use a selection of experiences in our reporting.

Women in the UK born in 1984 had an average of 1.02 children by the time they were 30 years old, which is slightly fewer children than women born in 1969 who have on average 1.12 children by 30 years old. 18% of women born in 1969 remain without children, whereas only 11% of those born in 1944 were without children.

Choice, circumstance, medical reasons and the perceived benefits of having children all play a part in deciding whether to have children. 10% of women without children in the US are so by choice, 10% for medical reasons, and 80% by circumstance according to research conducted by sociologist Renske Keizer, a professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

If you don’t have children we’d like you to share your reasons and experiences – anonymously if you prefer. We’ll use a selection of responses in our reporting.