Are you trying to become pregnant but facing difficulty? If yes, then you must know that you are not the only one in this world troubled with the problem. However, you must first come into terms with the hard reality that once you the age of 30, the odds of successful pregnancy decline with every passing year.
Women of all ages know how it feels to recognize that the biological clock is ticking away. Acknowledging the truth that their biological clock is ticking away can be stressful.
Fertility in Aging Female
When a woman is in her 20s, she is considered to be in the best time of reproduction. Once she crosses the age of30, her fertility takes a downturn. After 30, a fertile woman has only about 20 percent chances of getting pregnant. It implies that in a single cycle, 20 out of hundred women will conceive, and the rest of the 80 have to try again. When she hits 40 years of age, the chances of IVF success rate in Thane during the first cycle drops to 5 percent.
It is very rare for a woman to be fertile until menopause. If we take the average age of menopause to be 51, then most of the ladies will become unable to conceive in their mid-40s. These percentages are applicable both for natural and In Vitro Fertilization. Although IVF is promoted in a way that makes a couple to believe that they can conceive through fertility treatments. The truth is that the age of a woman has a significant bearing on the infertility treatments. The age-related loss of female fertility takes place due to a gradual decline in the quality and quantity of the eggs.
Infertility Evaluation and Advanced Maternal Age
A woman is diagnosed with infertility if she fails to conceive following 1 year of unprotected sex i.e., no contraceptives used. However, if a woman is over 35 years, then the evaluation period starts after six months of trying to conceive unsuccessfully. It is recommended that couples suffering from pelvic diseases like the absence of periods, sexual dysfunction should start infertility treatment immediately. A fertility test may include the detection of ovulation, evaluating Fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix. Semen analysis may be recommended for the male partner. All the related testing can be completed within a time frame of six months, and the necessary treatment can be commenced.
Women suffering from chronic health issues like Diabetes or high blood pressure need to talk with their clinical care provider before attempting pregnancy. You must attain a sound state of health. Thus, your physician or clinical care provider may recommend medication changes or in general health care before attempting pregnancy as risks associated with an older woman are higher.
Health hazards like Diabetes and high blood pressure are more common in women over the age of 35. Thus, you may be recommended special testing and monitoring. It always benefits from having a preconception counseling. Women who are over the age of 35 have more risks of giving birth to a baby with a chromosomal problem. It is important to discuss genetic issues before attempting a successful conception. Prenatal testing is very important to uncover birth defects. Likewise, blood testing and ultrasound may be used as screening tests.
Alternatives and Treatment Option
If the underlying cause of infertility is identified, the clinical care provider may recommend the necessary infertility treatment. However, there are instances when the reasons for infertility remain medically unexplained or unidentified. Under the given circumstances, IVF may be recommended. IVF involves removing eggs and fertilizing them with sperm of male partners in the laboratory and replanting the embryo on the uterus. IVF can also be executed with donor sperm. As far as success rates are concerned, it is a meager ten percent for women between the ages of 35 to 40 and less than 20 percent per cycle. IVF can also be done with donor eggs. If you are over the age of 40, then the IVF procedure done with donor eggs has more chances of being successful. If IVF is done with a donor egg, then the opportunity to experience pregnancy, birth, and motherhood is truly present. It is important to remember that the child will not be genetically related to the mother but will carry the genes of the father.
Summary
There is a significant drop in the fertility rate of a woman as she ages. The drop in fertility starts from the late 20s or early 30s. It gets a steep decline among women over the age of 35 years. While opting for IVF, one should keep realistic expectations. It is important to get all the important testing done and follow a treatment protocol religiously. One needs to be well aware of the goals and needs. Communication is the key to making well-informed decisions and takes a step closer to realizing the cherished goal of motherhood.