It’s important to understand the link between age and infertility when trying to conceive
Most people have heard of the “biological clock.” However, they might not understand exactly what it means. At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas (FCLV), we tell our patients that there is a strong link between age and infertility. Although this decline is most notable in women, men also experience age-related infertility. Thankfully, our Las Vegas infertility doctors provide a wealth of treatment options for infertility due to age.
Exploring the link between age and infertility in women and men
The link between age and infertility is the most pronounced in women because girls are born with all the eggs they will ever have. When a girl reaches puberty, she has about 300,000 eggs. She’ll ovulate 300 of them during her reproductive years. The woman’s body will reabsorb the remaining eggs.
The peak of female fertility occurs in the 20s and the early-30s. As a result, a 30-year-old woman with normal fertility has a 20% chance of conceiving each month. By age 35, female fertility begins to decline more rapidly, which decreases egg quality and quantity. Once the woman reaches age 40, she has less than a 5% chance of pregnancy each month that she tries. She is also more likely to have a miscarriage or a baby with a birth defect.
In contrast to women, men make sperm throughout their lives. However, most men experience an age-related decline in fertility in their 60s. This is due to smaller and softer testes and decreased sperm quality. Our Las Vegas infertility doctors tell patients that this decline in male fertility can lead to trouble conceiving and potential birth defects.
Treating age-related fertility issues
Our Las Vegas infertility doctors offer treatments for age and infertility. However, the right treatment will vary depending on a patient’s age and fertility issues. Some patients may be able to conceive using in vitro fertilization (IVF) with their own eggs and sperm. Once a woman reaches her 40s, it is more likely that she will need IVF with donor eggs to conceive a healthy baby. Diagnostic testing is the only way to know which treatment will be best for an individual.
If a woman is in her 20s or 30s now and thinks she would like to wait to have children, we recommend considering egg freezing. This form of fertility preservation can give women a fertility “safety net” for future family building.
Our Las Vegas infertility doctors consistently produce some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn how they can help you overcome age and infertility issues.
