How Age Impacts Fertility
Most women have heard the adage about biological clocks and the importance of trying to start a family as soon as possible. The fear is that waiting too long may lead to difficulty conceiving or pregnancy complications. Although the risk of infertility increases with age, women over 35 can still get pregnant. While less pronounced, male fertility can also be affected by age. From egg health to sperm quality, here’s what people need to know about getting pregnant later in life.
The link between age and fertility
For most women, the reproductive era spans from 12 to 51 years of age. That timeline overlaps with the period when women begin menstruating and later enter menopause. After menopause, a woman’s ovaries no longer release eggs. While an older woman can still carry a baby to term post menopause, some form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), is typically required to conceive. As a result, most fertility experts generally recommend that women prioritize starting or expanding a family in the late 20s or early 30s. After the age of 35, the odds of conception begin to drop significantly.
Older men and sperm quality
Males also have a prime age range when sperm quality is optimal. Fewer conversations happen about men and fertility, but sperm quality and quantity are known to decline with age. Research has shown that around age 40, men’s fertility begins to decline sharply. Research shows that a man who is over age 40 is 30% less likely to successfully conceive than a man who is younger than 30. Key reasons for male infertility later in life can include lower testosterone levels, reduced blood supply to the pelvic area, erectile dysfunction (ED), an enlarged prostate, and narrowing of the vas deferens tubes that move sperm through the testicles.
Lifestyle factors and age
While age can make conception more challenging for both men and women, lifestyle factors can also play a significant role. Along with declining egg or sperm quality and quantity, issues such as being overweight or underweight, smoking, drug use, or even having underlying health conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can all influence whether a couple can conceive. That said, fertility later in life isn’t all doom and gloom. An increasing number of women are waiting until after 35 to start a family, and success rates in older women are rising too. Data show that the rate of first-time pregnancies in women aged 40-44 has also risen over the last decade.
The risk of an older pregnancy
A healthy pregnancy after 35 is possible, but with age comes heightened risks that people should be aware of. Along with reduced fertility or the need for fertility treatments like IVF, pregnancy complications are possible. Some of the most common risks include premature birth, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, chromosomal defects, and labor complications.
The takeaway
While conceiving at an older age does come with risks, women and couples can still get pregnant naturally or with help through ART treatments like IVF. Older individuals interested in starting or expanding a family should speak with a fertility specialist who can provide more information, perform a detailed exam, and recommend fertility treatment, if needed.
