The impact of age on fertility

Age is one of the most crucial determinants of our ability to have children.

Both men and women experience shifts in their fertility as they grow older, yet women face a unique biological process known as the biological clock, impacting their likelihood of conceiving.

This blog post aims to explore the impact of age on fertility, the underlying biological mechanisms, and their implications for family planning and assisted reproductive technologies.

What’s the relation between female fertility and age?

Female fertility is intricately connected to the menstrual cycle and the process of ovulation. Women are born with a finite number of eggs, typically ranging from 2 to 20 million, which gradually decreases over time.

As women approach their late 20s, early 30s and 40s, both the quality and quantity of eggs decline, making natural conception more challenging and increasing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos.

And the best way to understand your fertility for your age is by getting it tested. Simple blood tests such as AMH and AFC can help you understand your egg reserve and plan ahead.

Remember—one of the best ways to understand your personal fertility status is to get started with simple blood tests- such as the Arva Fertility Test.

Fertility statistics by age: Monthly chance of natural pregnancy

As a woman ages, her chance of natural pregnancy drops from around 25% at age 25 to less than 5% at age 40.

While women under 30 have about 25% chance of getting pregnant naturally each cycle, that chance drops to 20% for women over 30, according to estimates by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. By 40, the chance of getting pregnant naturally each month is just 5%.

Fertility statistics by age: Chance of pregnancy using IVF

Many believe that in vitro fertilization, or IVF, is an effective way to treat age-related infertility. In reality, success rates for in vitro fertilization using a woman’s own eggs, of the same age, drop drastically in the 30s and hover in the low single digits for women over 44.

In contrast, the success rates for women using young eggs—like from a donor or from themselves, frozen before 35—stay stable at about 50%.

What does age-related decline in fertility mean?

Our age affects several body functions that play a part in our fertility as well, such as:

• Ovarian Function: The most significant factor influencing female fertility is the diminishing ovarian function and the decrease in both the quantity and quality of eggs over time. As women age, the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries decreases, and the remaining eggs are more prone to genetic abnormalities, reducing the chances of successful conception and increasing the risk of miscarriage.

• Menstrual Cycle Changes: Hormonal alterations related to age can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, complicating the accurate prediction of ovulation and posing challenges to natural conception.

• Extended Time to Conceive: With a decrease in ovarian reserves, it often takes longer for women to conceive. The likelihood of achieving pregnancy significantly decreases after the age of 35, and by the age of 40, this decline becomes more pronounced.

• Increased Risks in Pregnancy: Advanced maternal age is linked to a higher risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. Additionally, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, particularly Down syndrome, rises with maternal age.

What’s the relation between male fertility and age?

While women experience a more defined biological clock, men also undergo gradual declines in fertility as they age, though less prominently.

It is possible for men to father children at older ages compared to women. Nonetheless, advanced paternal age has been associated with a higher likelihood of genetic disorders and certain health conditions in offspring.

This is because, with advanced age, the genetic quality of the sperm decreases as well.

How Assisted Reproductive Technologies can help with Family Planning

Diminishing fertility with age has significant implications for family planning. Couples delaying parenthood may encounter difficulties conceiving naturally or may require assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to achieve pregnancy. Here are some options to consider:

• Timely Family Planning: Awareness of the impact of age on fertility is crucial for individuals desiring children, enabling informed decisions about family planning timing. Consulting healthcare professionals provides valuable insights and guidance.

• Fertility Preservation: Women wishing to postpone childbearing may consider fertility preservation methods such as egg freezing or embryo cryopreservation during their prime reproductive years in their 20s or 30s. This allows the preservation of eggs or embryos for future use when fertility might be compromised.

• Assisted Reproductive Technologies: ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), can help overcome age-related fertility challenges. IVF involves retrieving eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory, and transferring resulting embryos to the uterus. In cases of severely compromised reproductive potential, the use of donor eggs or sperm might be considered.

• Ovarian Rejuvenation: Experimental therapies like stem cell or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments alongside other medications aim to regenerate ovaries for increased egg production in IVF.

• Genetic Screening: As maternal age rises, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos also increases. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) during IVF cycles screens embryos for specific genetic conditions, improving the chances of selecting healthy embryos for transfer.

Age and fertility: Arva’s take on it

Age significantly affects fertility, especially for women due to the biological clock and the declining ovarian function. Understanding the impact of age on fertility is crucial for individuals and couples considering parenthood.

Timely family planning, fertility preservation, and the utilisation of assisted reproductive technologies can help mitigate challenges associated with age-related fertility decline. Consulting healthcare professionals and fertility specialists allows exploration of options, receiving personalised advice, and making informed decisions about one's reproductive journey.

It all can start with a simple fertility test. Knowing where you stand in terms of your reproductive health can help make the conversations around it and regarding your family planning, a tad easier.