Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors in couples who are trying to conceive. But the most natural and unavoidable cause of infertility is often the age of the people who are trying to get pregnant. If you’re in your thirties or forties, you have a good chance of having a safe pregnancy. However, it may take you longer to become pregnant, and some people may require medical assistance, which is known as assisted conception, in order to conceive.
It’s important to remember that as women become older, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant and the risk of miscarriage rises. Men’s fertility declines with age as well, though to a lower extent.
What factors influence my fertility?
More than 8 out of 10 couples with a woman under the age of 40 will become pregnant spontaneously within a year of having regular unprotected intercourse.
Fertility difficulties can have a variety of causes, but it is not always possible to pinpoint the particular cause. This is referred to as ‘unexplained infertility’. In your twenties, unexplained infertility is uncommon, but it becomes the most common cause of infertility in women over 35.
Keep in mind that age isn’t the only factor that can affect your fertility. Smoking, drinking and drug use, obesity, and sexually transmitted infections can all impair your ability to conceive.
Pregnancy difficulties due to a woman’s age
The single most important factor influencing a woman’s fertility is her age. While good health increases the likelihood of becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby, it does not compensate for the impact of age on a woman’s fertility.
The risk of pregnancy problems also rises with age. Miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus become more common after the age of 35. Complications like gestational diabetes, placenta previa, caesarean section, and stillbirth are also more common in older women.
- Age and egg production: A woman is born with all of the eggs she will ever have. Her eggs age with her, and their number and quality diminish over time. As a result, her chances of having a baby decrease over time, particularly for women over the age of 35.
What if my male partner is older than I am?
Male age decreases overall chances of pregnancy while increasing time to pregnancy (the number of menstrual cycles required to become pregnant) and the risk of miscarriage and fetal mortality. Children with older fathers are also at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders (though this is still uncommon). Children of fathers over the age of 40 are also five times more likely to acquire autism spectrum disorder.
- Age and sperm production: Most men produce millions of fresh sperm every day. However men over 40 have fewer healthy sperm than younger men. Between the ages of 20 and 80, the amount of semen (the fluid that carries sperm) and sperm motility (ability to migrate towards an egg) decreases continuously.
IVF as a treatment for infertility due to age
IVF is the best fertility treatment available that has the highest success rate when it comes to successful conceptions. People with fertility issues often opt for this treatment in order to achieve a successful pregnancy. In the process, mature eggs are extracted from the ovaries and fertilized with sperm, in a lab. Then, one or more of the fertilized eggs, known as embryos, are implanted in the uterus, which is where babies develop.
This treatment is fruitful in cases of infertility due to age as it can be done using donor eggs or sperm from younger donors, which can help in development of a healthy fetus.
While IVF is discussed for women over the age of 35, your chances of getting pregnant are better at a younger age. The maximum age limit for IVF for women is 50 years, while the maximum age limit for males is 55 years.
What should I do to ensure a healthy late pregnancy?
If you want to have a baby at any age, the greatest thing you can do is make sure you are healthy before getting pregnant. You can accomplish this by:
- Taking folic acid for at least two months before conception
- Engaging in regular physical activity
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Giving up smoking
- Reducing caffeine consumption
- Abstaining from alcohol and illegal drugs
- Discussing any current medical issues you have with your doctor or specialist
- Getting checked for sexually transmitted diseases
- Undergoing a cervical screening within the next three years
FAQ’s
What is the male fertility age?
Male fertility peaks between the ages of 25 and 29. At the age of 30, sperm quality begins to deteriorate. Men’s sperm volume begins to diminish significantly around the age of 45. It may also take longer for older guys to conceive a child.
What is the female fertility age?
The reproductive years of a woman are between her late teens and late twenties.
At what age does a woman stop being fertile?
Fertility (the capacity to become pregnant) begins to drop about the age of 30 in women. Once you reach your mid-30s, the drop becomes more rapid. By the age of 45, fertility has diminished to the point that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely.
What is the age group of infertility?
Subfertility and female ageing are strongly linked. Women in their late 30s and early 40s see a significant loss in fertility. The chance of conceiving naturally is nearly half to that of women aged 19-26 years.
At what age do men stop producing sperm?
Although males never stop generating sperm throughout their lives, production begins to decline beyond the age of 35. Even with younger women, older men’s sperm motility, volume, and genetic quality are less likely to result in a healthy pregnancy.
Why does fertility decrease with age?
As you get older, your egg count declines. Furthermore, the surviving eggs are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities. And as you get older, you’re more likely to acquire health issues that can interfere with fertility, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis.