February 22, 2012

Female Infertility Treatment – Your Options

Struggling to conceive and considering female infertility treatment but don’t know what to look for?

Let’s take a more considered look at a number of typical Western female infertility treatments and reflect on what is best for you.

Take into account, there are pluses and minuses in every viable female infertility treatment. A particular predicament with most of the solutions is that they are quite expensive and may possibly have risky side effects – side effects that may possibly necessitate additional treatment.

The main thing you must take into account in trying to get pregnant is…

1) Lifestyle modification

Being overweight or obese can cause serious health problems, including impacting negatively on your fertility.

Healthy eating and exercising can help keep your weight at healthy levels. This will lower your insulin levels. This in turn reduces your ovaries’ production of testosterone.

This helps lower blood glucose (sugar) levels, improves your body’s use of insulin and normalizes hormone levels in your body. Just a 10 percent loss in body weight can restore a normal period and make your cycle more regular.

2) Diabetes medications

Some medicines typically used to treat type two diabetes have also been found to help in the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – one of the main causes of infertility in women.

Diabetes medication helps lower insulin levels which, together with regular exercise and a healthy diet, may result in normalizing menstruation and ovulation for women.

3) Fertility medications

A failure to ovulate is the prime cause of fertility problems for many women.

Medications that stimulate ovulation can help women with PCOS become pregnant. However, before fertility medications are used it is essential that other reasons for infertility in both the woman and man should be ruled out.

You also need to be aware that some fertility medications increase the risk for multiple births, such as twins or triplets… or even more!

4) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

On the positive side, IVF offers the best chance of becoming pregnant in a menstrual cycle and gives doctors better control over the chance of multiple births.

On the negative side, it is very costly and there is no guarantee of success.

Make a thorough research before committing to IVF as a female infertility treatment.

5) Surgery

‘Ovarian drilling’ may be used when a woman does not respond to fertility medicines.

This procedure – known as a laparoscopy – can lower male hormone levels and as a result increase the chances of ovulation.

Before opting for this treatment, be aware the beneficial effects may only last a few months. The surgery can also result in loss of scalp hair or increased hair growth on other parts of the body. It also carries a risk of developing scar tissue on the ovary.

6) Hormone Blockers

Hormone Blockers? Is that a fancy name for a defense player on a football team?!

No… these can be used to treat typical PCOS symptoms – increased hair growth, male pattern baldness and acne.

Hormone blockers are also known as anti-androgens medicines.

But take care. Anti-androgens are often combined with birth control pills and should NOT be taken if you are trying to get pregnant.

Conclusion

Consider with care the pros and cons of every one of the female infertility treatments you might be thinking about. Bear in mind your budget – can you afford it? – and comprehend completely the root causes of your infertility. Certain female infertility treatments offer a better chance of success based on your type of infertility.

Treatment For Female Infertility

As a growing number of women are postponing having a baby, natural alternative female infertility treatment by means of acupuncture, holistic cleansing, fertility herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine have started receiving prevalent interest around the world.

Within the clinical field, experts who face the task of extending women’s biological time clock have made remarkable breakthrough in female infertility treatment, through assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART build upon the use of fertility drugs and offer greater surety of a positive pregnancy. Techniques used in ART can be labeled as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Fertility Drugs

Fertility drugs function as a form of hormone treatment, either to supplement an inadequacy in the women or perhaps to stimulate a reaction in the women’s body.

Clomiphene or frequently called Clomid is among the most trusted fertility medication in female infertility treatment. Its function is to encourage ovulation in ladies. Just like various other type of medical fertility treatment, Clomid raises the chance of multiple pregnancies.

The other popular drugs prescribed for dealing with female infertility is Metrodin and Pergonal.

Assisted Reproductive Technology

As soon as fertility drugs properly stimulate ovulation in the lady, the couple may be advised to take into consideration ART. This is particularly so if there are also male infertility problems or if time is of essence, for instance in ladies over 40.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

This is a preferred type of female infertility treatment as it is generally pain-free and the process is completed in just a couple of minutes.

With IUI, the sperm is specially prepared and gathered so that there is a larger concentration of good quality sperms. These sperms are directed into the female’s uterus through a slim plastic catheter which is passed through the vagina and cervix.

The fact that sperms can only thrive within the woman’s body system for up to five days, the actual timing of IUI is crucial. It needs to coincide with when the lady ovulates so that it is well-timed for the sperm and egg to fertilize.

In Vitro Fertilization

IVF is regarded as a effective female infertility treatment plus a male infertility treatment. Having said that, it really is a rather pricey and invasive therapy approach and so is usually the last option.

IVF makes an attempt to eliminate just about any uncertainty associated with fertilization by removing the ovum and also sperm and fertilizing them in laboratory environment. The ensuing embryo is then implanted into the womb for continued growth and development.

There are various variations to IVF and each variation addresses unique situation of the couple. For example in ICSI, just one sperm is inserted into the ovum. This really is advantageous in the event that there are male infertility issues for instance incapability to ejaculate however medical doctors are able to draw out the sperm from the testicles. Contributor egg can be utilized in IVF when the woman has inferior egg quality. In such condition, the use of a contributor ovum might improve the effectiveness associated with IVF.

Even though there had been significant development in female infertility treatment by means of ART, the use of these man-made reproductive approaches tend to be against numerous religious beliefs. This explains the reason why many classic and also natural form of female infertility treatment such as traditional chinese medicine for fertility remain extremely popular.

Female Infertility Treatment – Learn More Now

Female infertility treatment is vital for women who are trying to get pregnant but are still unsuccessful despite of more than a year of unprotected intercourse. This is the technical or standard definition of female or male infertility. Due to this reality, it is vital that the couple, not only the female, ought to seek professional medical assistance.

Couples or women who are pretty much certain that they are infertile ought to seek the most comprehensive examination for proper diagnosis. This helps you determine whether you are dealing with a serious infertility problem or not. Female infertility treatment starts with examinations that may include ovulation tests, menstrual and pregnancy history check.

For more serious cases, there are examinations and diagnostic options which require a more invasive feature. This may include laparoscopy which is performed in order to detect pelvic adhesions and endometriosis. More advanced and scientifically innovative testing is required to accurately determine the different causes that trigger and worsen infertility in women.

In the previous years, there are options for female infertility treatment which have likewise undergone progress and advancements. The Assisted Reproductive Technology or ART is one of the best known treatment options available. This technology is performed through combining fertility drugs with hormonal therapy. Other testing includes gamete intrafallopian transfer, in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination and zygote intrafallopian transfer.

Another female infertility treatment is fertility drugs which are formulated to help the ovaries produce enough eggs to be fertilized during the ovulation process. There are also drugs and medications which are designed in order to stimulate the hormonal production. The drug called Clomiphene or with the marketing brand name Clomid and Serophene are highly recommended treatments for infertility problems.

Intrauterine insemination is another procedure which uses small amounts of concentrated sperm cells. The sperm is placed inside the uterus using a thin and plastic catheter which is passed through the vagina and to the cervix. This is a rather painless type of procedure in order to assist fertilization and fertility in the process. It also takes only a few minutes to finally accomplish.

Another fertility treatment and support is called in vitro fertilization or IVF treatment. This is a more comprehensive and highly advanced procedure in order to assist the sperm and egg. The fertilization process is actually facilitated and hastened in order to meet and be successfully fertilized. The mature egg is taken from the ovaries and fertilized by the sperm inside a laboratory. When the egg is fertilized, the embryo is implanted in the uterus.

Female infertility treatment is indeed a necessity for women who wanted to really get pregnant and start their own family. Research and know the best treatment options that work best for you today.

Natural Female Infertility Cures

These days natural cures for all types of health problems including female infertility are being accepted. It’s becoming increasingly more apparent that the current medical establishment is largely driven by money and not out of real concern for the patient. People are tired of going to the doctor and getting handed a pill or being subjected to dangerous and expensive medical treatments. As a society we are rapidly evolving a higher consciousness about our health. “Cures” for female infertility have largely consisted of injections of drugs and hormones and/or surgical procedures.

Meditation was considered weird and something that “hippies” did by most Americans not so long ago. Now meditation is a normal daily part of many of our lives. It’s no longer considered weird. There are even some insurance companies starting to pay for their members to join meditation and Yoga classes. The evidence for the effectiveness of these natural practices is that strong! Infertility has been cured many times over when the practices of meditation, hypnosis, and Yoga become a daily part of life.

Chinese medicine is another set of Eastern practices that is proving to be among the best natural cures for female infertility. In fact, study after study proves a 70% success rate for all forms of infertility. This profoundly high rate of success includes infertile men, endometriosis, unexplained infertility, PCOS, luteal phase defect and even tubal infertility,

Tubal infertility is still considered incurable most of the time by Western medical doctors. In reality the Chinese have known of cures for this form of female infertility for thousands of years. Most cases of tubal infertility take a good 6 months to clear up with the use of Chinese medicine. This includes the use of herbs and acupuncture.

In conclusion ask yourself this: Do I want to spend over $10,000 on IVF, inject massive hormones into my body and risk having a dangerous multiple pregnancy or do I want to go the natural route to cure my female infertility and get healthier in the meantime?

Increase Your Chances to Get Pregnant Naturally With Holistic Methods

Increase Your Chances to Get Pregnant Naturally With Holistic Methods

Trying to increase your chances of getting pregnant naturally without risky drugs and expensive medical pregnancy procedures can be a daunting task. When you are trying to get pregnant there can be many reasons for your apparent infertility, and you probably can not get any two doctors to agree on a single cause or diagnosis. But no matter what road you travel to get there… getting pregnant is your goal, and there may be a safe and natural method that will work for you.

Tips on getting pregnant are everywhere, and everyone wants to offer you a ‘sure-fire’ tip to increase your chances of getting pregnant, and most women that are trying to get pregnant will try them all. But maybe what you really need is more information about the causes of apparent infertility and some direction to natural methods that have helped women get pregnant since the beginning of time.

Common reasons you may be struggling to get pregnant

You are mid-thirties to early forties, late in your child bearing years
You have Endometriosis
You have Tubal obstructions or Uterine Fibroids
You have Ovarian Cysts, or “lazy” Ovaries

These may not be all the reasons a woman is struggling to get pregnant, but they are the most common diagnosis, and some type of drug or medical procedure is the usual recommendation to increase your chances to get pregnant.

Typical Medical Recommendations to Get Pregnant

1.You are late in your child bearing years

Most tips for getting pregnant for this include life-style and diet changes. Eat healthy, exercise, and stay on top of all medical conditions that contribute to late child bearing problems

2.You have Endometriosis

Have intercourse during the most fertile days of each menstrual cycle. If your endometriosis is not very bad, this may be all you need to try.
Laparoscopic surgery. Removal of endometriosis and scar tissue can improve pain and your chance for pregnancy.
Superovulation medicine and intrauterine insemination. These are the most common infertility treatments
If surgery fails, in vitro fertilization can help improve your chances to get pregnant.

3.You have Tubal obstructions or Uterine Fibroids

Laparoscopy: Is a surgical procedure in which a catheter is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen to reach the fallopian tubes. Using a laparoscope to view the tubes, endometrial tissue that is forming any obstructions is removed.
Recanalization: Is the process a doctor uses to insert a catheter or other instrument through the uterus to reach the fallopian tube, where any endemetrial tissue causing a blockage is removed.
Salpingectomy: Is the medical procedure used when only one tube is blocked. The blocked Fallopian tube is sealed off, or removed so that the healthy Fallopian tube may retain normal function.

4.You have Ovarian Cysts, or “lazy” Ovaries

Functional ovarian cysts, which are the most common type, usually disappear by themselves. Abnormally large growths, or growths that last longer than a few months should be biopsied to see if they are something more harmful.

Unfortunately, most women trying to increase their chances to get pregnant do not respond well to traditional remedies to these ailments, or find the drug side-effects too debilitating, and end up more depressed and dejected than ever.

When all the “easy” cures have failed to work, women desperately turn to IUI and IVF procedures. Spending thousands of dollars on these procedures can not only put your family in a desperate financial position and add even more strain to your relationship, but can also deepen your own depression when they are not successful.

Natural Methods May Increase Your Chances to Get Pregnant.

Natural, or Holistic treatments and regimens have gained a lot of popularity recently. People are beginning to realize that those “old wives tales” and bits of “traditional medical lore” have a lot more validity than people wanted to admit. Maybe this is something for you to consider as you try to increase your chances to get pregnant.

How to Get Pregnant – 4 Tips on How to

How to Get Pregnant – 4 Tips on How to Get Pregnant Faster

Nothing in the world can match the joy of getting pregnant and having a sweet newborn baby. Life just is not the same, you will get a sense of fulfillment that can only come from seeing your boy or girl grow up strong and healthy. Sadly, reaching this seemingly easy goal is not a walk in the park for everyone due to several factors like age, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and other similar conditions.

If these or other difficulties with getting pregnant are leading you to consider IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or any other of the commonly used methods, or even taking fertility drugs with potentially lethal side effects, you may be seriously risking both your life and your child’s. The best approach to getting pregnant is always the natural and holistic approach.

However, how should you use the natural and holistic methods in order to get pregnant fast?

My answer to this question has its origin in my own fertility issues, and it is the result of an extensive research I had to perform regarding safe and natural methods of getting pregnant, so I would like to share with you some of the amazing things I discovered to help me get pregnant.

I Got Pregnant With Natural And Holistic Methods In Less Than 3 Months. If You Would Like To Get Pregnant Just As I Did Click Here To Find Out More.

The desire to get pregnant, combined with successive failed attempts can lead to desperation and the use of expensive drug treatments with the hope that money will buy your way to pregnancy. This also creates the perfect conditions for unscrupulous salesmen who promote dubious claims of instant infertility cures. Fertility drugs pose big risks, such as ovarian cancer and other side effects. The fact is that infertility is your body letting you know that some things are not in the right place so you can carry a baby.

Therefore, skip all the dangerous pills and drug treatments and start dealing with the problem using natural solutions that will not put you or your baby at risk. For example, simple things such as taking certain vitamins and minerals can significantly improve your fertility, and it is not only you who should be taking them, but also your partner. Vitamins such as vitamin C for mobility, and zinc which helps keep his testosterone levels and sperm count.

Do Not Seek The Answer In Fertility Treatments and Surgeries

The first thing that comes to our mind when we face difficulties getting pregnant is resorting to expensive, dangerous and sometimes painful medical procedures. However, these options, such as IVF and IUI can end up being the problem more than the solution, that is without considering the fact that they can actually pose a threat to your child’s health and development, potentially leading to premature birth a increased risk for deceases like cerebral palsy.

This is what makes natural methods of getting pregnant the safest way to go, because they will not only increase the chances of a pregnancy, but they will also help you give birth to a healthy and vibrant child.

Make Sure You Are Eating Fertility Friendly Foods

As I mentioned before, when you face difficulties getting pregnant, it is your body saying things are not right or not fit to carry a child. Therefore, one of the logical ways to get your internal system to perfect working order so you can get pregnant is by paying attention to the kind of food you eat. Some foods will actually help you become pregnant, including generally healthy foods like whole grain breads, beans and full dairy products, whereas others can decrease your chances of getting pregnant by as much as 40%-50%.

Always Prefer The Holistic Approach Over The Seemingly “Easier” Options

As you read this short article, you may have noticed by now that the central idea of every tip involves getting pregnant naturally, without recurring to risky medical procedures or drugs. You are meant to naturally provide your baby with the best environment for her development, so disrupting your own system with invasive or dangerous methods can do more harm than good down the road.

Avoid the temptation of going for “quick fixes” that will cost you a lot of money and will probably leave you with more pain than joy instead of actually helping you get pregnant.

I Can’t Conceive, How Can I Get Pregnant Quick?

For many women, becoming pregnant is just very easy. But for a large number of others, it can be distressingly difficult. These poor women soon begin to feel utterly unable to cope if they do not become pregnant almost as soon as they decide to try. Then they begin to think there could be a serious problem with themselves. They begin to continually ask themselves “When can I get pregnant” or “how do I get pregnant fast?”

But there are very many things that a woman can try to increase her fertility and increase her chances of becoming a mother .

My best way to get pregnant may not be identical your best way to get pregnant, different things work for each of us. So we must all work on all the options.

Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude

Where intended conception is concerned, recent medical studies have shown that physical health is far from being the only issue. A positive outlook can make an tremendous difference. Negative thoughts, distress and worry can considerably reduce your chances of conception. As stress levels rise, so fertility levels will often fall. So try not to fret if you do not get pregnant quickly.

Take time out of your daily schedule and deliberately slow down. Everyone has different ways of relaxing, so think carefully about how you can positively achieve this. It may be as simple as taking a warm relaxing bath. . “When can I get pregnant?” – that’ll happen as soon as your body feels ready, so do what you can to help it along!

Some may need more outside help. For example: aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, all are wonderfully relaxing and can make a huge difference to your outlook. Aromatherapy is often used to regulate menstrual cycles too.

If you want to get pregnant fast, try spending some enjoyable quality time with your partner or husband can also help. Trying interesting activities together, and making sure that you both enjoy them, can work wonders. This alone can vastly improve your relationship and remove some of the pressures that may build up while you are trying for a baby.

Have You Thought of Acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been central to Chinese medicine for thousands of years and is well known for its amazing results across a variety of conditions. However, its benefits have only recently been recognized and accepted in the west.

Acupuncture can have a positive effect on fertility when used together with IVF. Research into acupuncture’s effect on fertility when used on its own is less complete, although small studies seem to show that it can indeed be beneficial.

If you would like to try acupuncture, try to find a reputable fully-certified acupuncturist. Try The National Institute of Health or The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture to find reliable licensed acupuncturists.

Ovulation

Your chances of becoming pregnant will greatly depend on your menstrual cycle, and its regularity. Ovulation usually occurs between the twelfth and eighteenth day of your cycle. That is when you are likely to be most fertile and thus your chances of becoming pregnant are highest. “When can I get pregnant quick?” – target you ovulation schedule.

It is widely accepted that ovulation typically happens on day fourteen (based on a twenty-eight day monthly cycle). So an accurate way of predicting your most likely ovulation day is to subtract fourteen days from the overall length of your menstrual cycle. So if your cycle is twenty-eight days, just subtract fourteen to get your own optimum day for fertility, (in this example that would be on day fourteen). However, women’s menstrual cycles do vary quite a lot, and consequently your own particular ovulation day might be a bit before or a bit after day fourteen.

Predictor kits for Ovulation

You can buy ovulation prediction test kits from many pharmacy or drug stores, these will help you target the best days and times. Having sex during your ovulatory period will greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant fast. However couples should try to have sex at least three times per week throughout the month if they are trying for a baby. This is because ovulation doesn’t always occur when it is expected, and regular intercourse is the best way of making sure that no opportunity is missed.

After intercourse, try to avoid getting up for twenty minutes or so , this is to keep your partner’s sperm inside you, improving your chances of falling pregnant. . (I cover this in much more (explicit) detail over at my web site – the links are at the end of this article)

Your Diet is Important too

Getting pregnant naturally requires that you get good nutrition and a healthy balanced diet, they are very important . You should eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and wholegrain fibrous foods. The vitamins and nutrients provided by certain foods can also help you to become pregnant. Here are a few examples:

Green veg such as broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, kale and spinach are rich in folic acid, and this a very important vitamin for both mother and her baby. Folic acid assists healthy foetal development and can also help avoid defects like spina bifida. Folic Acid is also essential to the reproductive health of a woman. It can be found in bread and some cereals, and is also widely available as an inexpensive vitamin supplement.

Eat beans, lean meat, and pulses to get your protein and iron. These important nutrients will help to keep your iron levels up. Low iron can affect general health and particularly the health of your ovaries, and may impede ovulation.

You should also be sure to eat lots of eggs, nuts, dairy products, yeast, wholegrain foods, seeds, lean meat and shellfish. Dairy products in particular are rich in calcium, which everyone needs for healthy teeth and bones. If you are trying for a baby, do ensure that you get enough calcium not only for your body but your developing foetus

Finally,

If you have been trying to get pregnant for more than 12 months, and are still regularly asking yourself “How do I get Pregnant Fast?” or “What’s the best way to get pregnant?” – then it is probably time to make an appointment with your doctor for a checkup and to talk about any medical issues you may have. If your doctor thinks there may be a complication, he or she will probably arrange for you and your partner to see a fertility specialist.

Symptoms Of Early IVF pregnancy – Signs Of An In

Symptoms Of Early IVF pregnancy – Signs Of An In Vitro Pregnancy

Most of the women under in vitro pregnancy feel confused what would be their symptoms of early IVF pregnancy. Women, who do not conceive naturally, can conceive artificially through in vitro process. Therefore, they often feel whether IVF pregnancy symptoms resemble symptoms of natural pregnancies or not. Following an IVF pregnancy, the egg is taken outside in a Petri dish to fertilize. After fertilization, the egg is again implanted in the body. However, this is an artificial process of being pregnant, the course of the pregnancy advances as the normal period of pregnancy advances. However, after much discussion on IVF pregnancy symptoms, confusions related to this topic has prevailed. Let us talk about the procedures of IVF pregnancy and the symptoms of early IVF pregnancy.

What Is IVF Pregnancy?

This IVF pregnancy has brought ray of hopes to many women who have not been able to become pregnant naturally. Fortunately, this IVF pregnancy also consists of painless procedures. As the egg is fertilized in a Petri dish, it is planted in the womb of by the help of a catheter. The symptoms of early IVF pregnancy come to surface as the fertilized egg is implanted at the walls of uterus. Once the egg is implanted, mother’s body starts generating hormones to support advancement of pregnancy. As the pregnancy symptoms start showing up, take note of each of the signs and prepare a pregnancy journal. However, one must know the date when the egg was fertilized in the womb, otherwise, it is pretty challenging to make a pregnancy journal in case of an IVF pregnancy. So, start with recording the date of the implantation of the fertilized egg in your uterus.

What Are The Symptoms Of IVF Pregnancy?

After the egg is implanted in the uterus, and as your pregnancy is determined through an ultrasound, your body commence showing up symptoms of early IVF pregnancy. These symptoms are usually the symptoms of normal pregnancy. Following is a list of probable signs you can expect in an IVF pregnancy -

Enhanced level of basal body temperature An overdue periods or amenorrhea Tender and sore breasts Cramping sensation in lower abdominal area Discomforts of nausea and queasiness throughout the day Increased aversion and fondness to certain foods and fragrances. Dizziness and increased level of exhaustion and fainting. Sudden onset of mood swings Lower back pain Urinating frequently Role of HCG in IVF Pregnancy

HCG hormone is known as the pregnancy hormone and is produced after the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. In an interval of few days, this hormone is secreted in the blood and lead to arousal of symptoms of early pregnancy. However, during an IVF pregnancy, this hormone gets released a bit later in comparison to the normal pregnancy. This is the reason, the IVF pregnancy symptoms take a bit longer to arrive. If you are at this stage of IVF pregnancy, you should better consult a doctor or medical process to get your pregnancy confirmed, than to wait for its symptoms. Using an urine test, doctors detect IVF pregnancy. Undergo an HPT or positive urine test or ultrasound to be confirmed of your pregnancy if the symptoms of early IVF pregnancy are yet to show up.

Female Age, Fertility and Infertility

Female age is very important in consideration of probability for getting pregnant. Increased infertility rates with aging is well documented and very apparent in our society.

The real issue is egg quantity and quality – which translates into embryo quality after fertilization. As women wait longer to have children, more couples have fertility problems due to a decline in egg quality, and due to other issues that are more common in older women.

Many couples end up needing advanced treatments such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) to help overcome the age related decline in egg quality.

Women’s liberation has brought many advantages to women. However, as women increasingly delay childbearing, our society has done a poor job of educating people about the fertility decline with aging. Too many couples learn about the impact of age when it may already be too late.

If they had tried to have a baby sooner, old-fashioned “sex in the bedroom” could have built the family. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine said it well:

“As women delay childbearing, there is now an unrealistic expectation that medical science can undo the effects of aging.”

We do our best to overcome advancing age with fertility treatments such as IVF. However, egg quality is a significant limiting factor.

Individuals vs. Populations

Every individual and couple is unique and could be more fertile or less fertile as compared to the average for their age. Some 30 year olds already have significant egg quality and/or quantity issues and some 43 year olds can be fertile.

There are also no guarantees that an individual woman will have a slow and smooth drop in her fertility potential as she ages. Although rare, it is possible to have a rapid decline in egg quantity and quality as early as the teens or twenties.

Male Age and Fertility

The age of the male partner does not appear to matter much when it comes to fertility. Reasons for this include:

All of a woman’s eggs are present at birth. They can not divide or be “resupplied”, whereas sperm are produced constantly after puberty in men.
Eggs age over time, while new sperm are constantly coming off the production line.
Sperm from older men can have a reduced fertilizing potential as compared to younger men. However, this tends to be an all or none effect. If the sperm can fertilize eggs – we generally don’t see poor embryo quality due to reduced sperm quality.
Sometimes older men have less interest in frequent intercourse, which can be a factor.

Female Age – Egg Issues

Successful pregnancy outcome is very much related to female age – when using the woman’s own eggs.
When donor eggs are being used, the age of the egg donor is the important issue.
With egg donation, the age of the recipient woman has very little impact on the chance for successful pregnancy.
Therefore, the age of the egg is very important, but the age of the uterus is not.

Statistics on Female Age and Declining Fertility

Many people are not aware of the decline in fertility as the age of the female partner increases.

There is a slow decline in pregnancy rates in the early 30′s.
The decline is more substantial in the late 30′s and early 40′s.
Very few women over 44 are still fertile.
Miscarriage rates also increase substantially as the mother ages.
In vitro fertilization success rates start dropping in the early 30′s and fall faster starting at about age 36 or 37.

A 1957 Study of Fertility Rate by Age in Women

The study was on a large population that never used birth control. The investigators measured the relationship between the age of the female partner and fertility. Infertility rates are now higher in the general population than for the population in this study from the 1950s.

This study found:

By age 30, 7% of couples were infertile
By age 35, 11% of couples were infertile
By age 40, 33% of couples were infertile
At age 45, 87% of couples were infertile Reference: Tietze C: Reproductive span and rate of conception among Hutterite women. Fertility and Sterility 1957;8:89-97.

Importance of Egg Quality to Pregnancy Outcome

Poor egg quality results in poor embryo quality, which reduces the chances for becoming pregnant and having a successful outcome.

Female Age and Egg Quality

Age is one issue, but the real fertility issue is egg quality and quantity and not the number in a woman’s age. Egg quantity and quality in an individual woman can be average for her age, better than average, or worse than average. We know that egg quantity and quality tends to decline significantly in the mid to late 30s and fall faster in the late thirties and early 40s.

Fertility and “Egg Tests”

The following ovarian reserve screening tests are used by fertility specialists to predict the “remaining egg supply” and the ability (reserve) of the ovaries to respond to stimulation with drugs. These tests are helpful. However, they predict the quantity of eggs remaining – rather than the quality of those eggs.

Day 3 FSH testing
AMH levels
Antral follicle counts

Available Treatment for Age Related Fertility Problems: In Vitro Fertilization

Many fertility doctors recommend that women over about 38 that are infertile should have aggressive fertility treatments and proceed to in vitro fertilization relatively quickly – before fertility potential is lost.

Age Limits for In Vitro Fertilization

All clinics have an upper age limit after which they will not do IVF with the woman’s own eggs. Most IVF centers will attempt IVF using the female partner’s eggs until about age 43-45.