Fertility and Age: Understanding Your Options

August 15, 2024

Fertility and Age: Understanding Your Options

As more couples choose to start families later in life, understanding how age affects fertility becomes increasingly important. While age can present challenges to conception, modern reproductive medicine offers various options for those trying to conceive. It can be helpful to see a fertility specialist just to have a baseline evaluation to understand your body. Let’s explore how age impacts fertility in both women and men, and what options are available for couples on their fertility journey.

How Age Affects Female Fertility

Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and this finite supply decreases over time. As a woman ages:

1. The quantity and quality of eggs decline, especially after age 35.

2. After age 40 egg decline accelerates in every way.

3. Hormonal changes can affect ovulation and the ability to sustain a pregnancy.

These factors can make conception more challenging and increase the risk of miscarriage or chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

How Age Affects Male Fertility

While men continue to produce sperm throughout their lives, age does impact male fertility:

1. Sperm quality gradually declines, potentially affecting movement  and shape.

2. The genetic quality of sperm may decrease, potentially increasing the risk of certain health conditions in offspring.

3. Testosterone levels may drop, affecting libido and sexual function.

These changes are typically more gradual than those seen in female fertility but can still impact a couple’s ability to conceive.

Options for Couples Trying Later in Life

For couples facing age-related fertility challenges, several options are available:

Fertility Testing and Assessment: 

Relatively simple fertility testing can help identify any specific issues and guide treatment plans.

Lifestyle Modifications: 

Improving diet, exercise, and stress management can positively impact fertility for both partners.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies:

  • Ovulation Induction: This treatment uses fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. It’s often used for women who don’t ovulate regularly or at all.
    • Common medications include clomiphene citrate (Clomid) and letrozole
    • Ovulation induction can be used alone or in combination with other treatments.
  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): In this procedure, specially prepared sperm are inserted directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation. IUI is often combined with ovulation induction to increase the chances of success. It’s commonly used for:
    • Mild male factor infertility
    • Unexplained infertility
    • When using donor sperm
  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): IVF may be recommended for various fertility issues, including tubal factor infertility, severe male factor infertility, unexplained infertility and endometriosis. This common process involves:
    • Stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs
    • Retrieving the eggs
    • Fertilizing them with sperm in a laboratory
    • Culturing the resulting embryos for 3-5 days
    • Genetic (chromosomal) testing of embryos
    • Transferring one embryo into the uterus 
    • Saving embryos for the future

Each of these treatments has its own success rates, risks, and considerations. The most appropriate option depends on individual circumstances, including age, the cause of infertility, and other health factors. At Island Reproductive Services, we work closely with each patient to determine the best treatment plan for their unique situation.

Egg or Sperm Donation: 

For those with significantly diminished egg or sperm quality, using donor gametes can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Gestational Carrier: 

In cases where carrying a pregnancy is not possible or advisable, gestational carrier may be an option.

While age can present challenges to fertility, it’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is unique. Advances in reproductive medicine have expanded the options available to couples trying to conceive later in life. If you’re concerned about how age might be affecting your fertility, we encourage you to consult with a fertility specialist. At Island Reproductive Services, we’re committed to helping you understand your options and supporting you on your path to parenthood, regardless of your age.

Remember, knowledge is power when it comes to fertility. The sooner you seek information and assistance, the more options you’ll have available. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Read More Share

June 28, 2024

8 Surprising Facts About Fertility

Fertility is a topic that has garnered increasing attention in recent years, as more individuals and couples navigate the journey toward parenthood. While some aspects of fertility may seem straightforward, there are many surprising facts and nuances that can affect a person’s ability to conceive. 

Facts About Fertility

From age-related fertility declines to the impact of lifestyle factors, understanding these lesser-known aspects of fertility can be invaluable for those considering starting a family. Island Reproductive Services is here to explore some surprising facts about fertility that may shed light on this complex and deeply personal journey.

      1. Fertility Peaks Earlier Than Expected

      One of the most surprising facts about fertility is that it peaks earlier than many people realize. While it’s commonly understood that fertility declines with age, the decline actually begins much earlier than most individuals anticipate. In fact, a woman’s fertility starts to decline in her late 20s and early 30s, with a more significant decrease occurring after the age of 35. For men, fertility also begins to decline gradually after the age of 40, although the decline tends to be more gradual compared to women.

      1. Stress Can Impact Fertility

      Stress is a ubiquitous part of modern life, but its impact on fertility is often underestimated. Research has shown that high levels of stress can affect reproductive hormones, disrupt ovulation, and decrease sperm quality, potentially making it more difficult to conceive. While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress or intense stressors such as job loss, financial difficulties, or relationship problems may have a significant impact on fertility.

      1. Weight Can Affect Fertility

      Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health, but it also plays a significant role in fertility. Both overweight and underweight individuals may experience disruptions in their menstrual cycles, hormone levels, and ovulation, making it more challenging to conceive. Achieving a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular exercise can improve fertility outcomes for individuals struggling with weight-related fertility issues.

      1. Age Isn’t the Only Factor

      While age is a significant factor in fertility, it’s not the only one. Various lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, medical conditions, and genetic factors can also impact fertility. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to environmental toxins, certain medications, and underlying health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis can all affect fertility, regardless of age.

      1. Male Fertility Matters Too

      Fertility is often perceived as primarily a female issue, but male fertility plays a crucial role in the conception process as well. Approximately one-third of infertility cases are attributed to male factors, such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or abnormal sperm morphology. It’s essential for both partners to undergo fertility testing and evaluation to identify any potential issues that may be affecting their ability to conceive.

      1. Ovulation Timing is Key

      Understanding the menstrual cycle and ovulation timing is essential for maximizing the chances of conception. Contrary to popular belief, women are not fertile every day of their cycle. Ovulation typically occurs around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, with a window of approximately 6 days—5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself—during which conception is most likely to occur. Tracking ovulation through methods such as basal body temperature charting or ovulation predictor kits can help couples identify the most fertile days of the cycle and optimize timing for intercourse.

      1. Fertility Treatments Are Not a Guarantee

      While fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) have revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine, they are not a guarantee of success. Success rates for fertility treatments vary depending on factors such as age, underlying fertility issues, and treatment protocols. Additionally, fertility treatments can be emotionally, physically, and financially demanding, and may not be the right choice for every individual or couple.

      1. Secondary Infertility is Real

      Many people assume that once they’ve had one child, they’ll have no trouble conceiving again in the future. However, secondary infertility—difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term after having one or more children—is a real and often overlooked issue. Various factors, such as age, changes in fertility status, or new underlying health conditions, can contribute to secondary infertility, highlighting the importance of seeking timely evaluation and support if pregnancy does not occur as expected.

      Fertility is a multifaceted and often surprising aspect of reproductive health that can be influenced by a variety of factors. At Island Reproductive Services, after learning about your goals, your past history, and often your apprehensions, treatment options are discussed with you and/or your partner. Your individual needs become our motivation. We are experts in providing the care that your situation requires. For more information or facts about fertility, check out our website or give us a call at (718) 948-6100. 

      Read More Share