Congratulations to Eva Elmerstig, member of ReproUnion’s Executive Board and Professor at Malmö University (MaU). Earlier this year, she was appointed Professor at the Faculty of Health and Society in recognition of her longstanding contributions to research on sexual and reproductive health.

For many years, Eva Elmerstig has explored the psychosocial consequences of involuntary childlessness and infertility, helping advance understanding of how reproductive challenges affect wellbeing, relationships and quality of life. Her research has contributed important perspectives to ReproUnion’s aim of better diagnosing, treating and preventing infertility.

Earlier this year, Eva Elmerstig was also among the authors of the report Involuntary Childlessness – Prevalence, Causes, Treatment and Consequences, published as part of the Swedish national initiative Framtid med barn. The report highlights that infertility affects approximately 15-20% of couples of reproductive age and argues that biological limitations and limited knowledge about fertility should be recognised as important factors in the debate about Sweden’s historically low birth rates.

The topic also gained attention during Sweden’s 2026 election campaign, where Eva Elmerstig contributed to Malmö University’s video series on key societal issues and said:
“Society and policymakers should not determine people’s life choices, but they have a responsibility to create conditions that make it possible for those who wish to have children. This involves areas such as education, the labour market and housing policy, as well as improving knowledge about fertility and ensuring access to fertility care”.

On 12 October 2026, Eva Elmerstig will deliver her inaugural professorial lecture: När barnlängtan möter verkligheten – fertilitetsmedvetenhet och ofrivillig barnlöshet
(When the desire for children meets reality – fertility and involuntary childlessness). The lecture will be in Swedish and explore how experiences of involuntary childlessness are shaped at the intersection of the body, relationships and society. It will also be streamed and available on the MaU event page.

The ReproUnion team congratulates Eva on her appointment and looks forward to following her continued contributions to research, policy discussions and public understanding of reproductive health.