According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, depression is linked to lower chances of having children in both men and women. In the study, the researchers used data from the Finnish register. The study examined the associations between diagnosed depression and the likelihood of having children, the number of children, and the age at first birth for all men and women born in Finland between 1960 and 1980.

The findings of the study revealed that depression reduced the likelihood of having children and led to a lower number of children among men and women. The researchers also observed that depression was also linked to a slightly lower age at first birth.

The study′s most important finding was that even mild depression was associated with a lower likelihood of having children, whereas only severe depression was associated with a lower likelihood of having children in women. Men diagnosed with depression had 33% lower odds of having a child compared to men without depression. On the other hand, women diagnosed with depression had 15% lower odds of having a child than women without depression.

Additionally, the researchers also examined the association between depression and the likelihood of having children with socioeconomic differences and any educational differences. The study findings revealed that among men and women with secondary and higher education, depression was related to a lower likelihood of having children and having fewer children. On the other hand, among participants with basic education, no associations were observed for men, whereas for women, depression was related to a higher likelihood of having children. 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/people-suffering-from-depression-are-less-likely-to-have-children-study/1240264/)