1. Babies Become Less Likely the Older You Get
It is true that age and fertility are closely connected. Fertility declines with age. In fact, not only does fertility decline, but your chances of having a miscarriage increase as well. Even with high tech fertility treatments, the fertility rate for women over 40 is about 25 percent. That number drops to 10 percent for women over 43. These numbers come from a Boston fertility clinic after a group of 1,263 women received treatment there. All of these women were at least 40 years of age. The miscarriage rates were 24 percent for 40-year-olds, 38 percent for 43-year-olds, and over half of all pregnancies ended in miscarriage for those 44 and older.
2. Borrow Some Eggs
If you are a woman wanting to get pregnant and enjoy motherhood but are not able to conceive, you may be tempted to try some high tech options to overcome the age and fertility connection. One way is to go through the donor egg process. This is highly specialized and best done after you've received some counseling by a fertility specialist.
3. The Biological Alarm Is Ringing
Statistics say that one in five women over 40 seek fertility treatments in order to become pregnant. With lots of women engrossed in careers in their 20s and 30s it's no wonder why we've not heard the biological clock ticking loudly. When the alarm goes off, some of us are well into our late 30s and if we have trouble conceiving, by then it may be too late, unless there is some kind of technical help to overcome the age and fertility connection.
4. Eye on Egg Production
It's not just something for the chicken farmers to keep an eye on. The age and fertility quandary affects our egg production too. As many as 15 years before our bodies go through menopause, our egg production declines. For some women this is in our mid 30s. This is why most gynecologists recommend having our children by our 35th birthday.
5. Family History May Predict Future
If your mother entered menopause early, in her 40s, then you may be in for losing your ability to conceive early as well. If your mother was well into her 50s when she went through the change, then you may retain your ovarian function into your 40s and beyond. This little predictor is only a guide in the age and fertility balance though. You and your doctor together will make the fertility decisions that are right for your situation.
