Fertility

Our most fertility period is when we are teenagers and in our twenties. A woman is born with all the eggs she is going to produce and as she ages, the quality and quantity of these eggs deteriorates.

Globally, the age women have their first child is increasing and in some cultures the average age is around 30 years. Unfortunately, as a woman ages her fertility declines. Around age 35 years, fertility rates start to decline rapidly, so that by the age of 42-43, the chance of conception is very low and very rare by the age of 45 years. As well as a decrease in fertility, there is also an increase in the chance of conceiving a chromosomally abnormal pregnancy, such as Downs syndrome, especially in women in their 40’s. Due to the problems trying to conceive with advancing maternal age, the average age of women attending IVF clinics is 37-38 years. The chance of a successful pregnancy by IVF in a woman aged 44 and over is almost zero. Women over this age can get pregnant by egg donation. In recent years it has become possible to freeze eggs which can be stored for treatment when the woman is ready.

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse.

Female infertility can be caused by ovulation disorders, tubal blockage, uterine abnormalities or be unexplained.