Do you wish to conceive? Conception is a complex biological process, and age is one of the numerous factors that can impact it. Knowing how age affects fertility may help you make well-informed family planning decisions. Read on and find out how fertility can change with your advancing age, which biological reasons can impact your fertility, and what options you can choose from an infertility if you wish to become pregnant later in life. Consulting an IVF doctor in Kolkata can help you better understand these options.

Why Age Matters in Fertility?

As people age, both sexes experience biological changes. Only about 300 or 400 of the 1 to 2 million eggs that women are born with ovulate over the course of their reproductive lives. They produce fewer and lower-quality eggs as they age. They have a harder time getting pregnant as a result. This is often when couples begin exploring IVF fertility treatment cost and available options.

While men continue to produce sperm throughout life, there is a decline in sperm motility and quality with increasing age. After 40 years of age, they experience a drop in their testosterone levels. There is also an increase in DNA fragmentation in their sperm, which can have a negative impact on their fertility. It can also increase the risk of their offspring suffering from genetic abnormalities. Seeking guidance from an experienced IVF specialist in Kolkata is highly recommended in such cases.

How Age Affects Female Fertility?

A woman’s fertility often peaks in her 20s. When she reaches her early thirties, it starts to deteriorate. At age 35, the rate of female reproduction rapidly declines. Around age 40, women’s chances of getting pregnant start to drastically decrease. Discussing ivf fertility treatment cost at this stage can help in timely decision-making.

The drop in her fertility mainly happens due to hormonal changes affecting her menstrual cycle and her eggs getting older. Similarly, as women age, the rate of miscarriages rises. Women between 35 and 39 years of age typically suffer from 20% miscarriage risks and it rises as they grow older. This is when consultation with an ivf doctor in kolkata becomes crucial.

How Age Affects Male Fertility?

Men’s fertility decreases more gradually than women’s. Even then, age plays a big role. According to research, it has been found that men over 40 years of age suffer from higher infertility risks, as compared to their younger counterparts. There is a rise in sperm DNA fragmentation and a decline in sperm volume and quality. This can result in difficulties of conception. An ivf specialist in kolkata can offer fertility assessments and treatment plans tailored for older men.

Children born of such men can be at a greater risk of suffering from developmental problems. According to studies, offspring born to older fathers suffer from a slightly higher risk of schizophrenia and autism. While the risks are small, older paternal age can make such issues more pronounced and increase such risks.

Which Fertility Options Are Available to Older Men and Women?

With medical technology advancing so much today, you can choose from a wide range of options for improving conception. These include:

• Fertility Treatments – Often, IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are used to improve conception. You should inquire about ivf fertility treatment cost before choosing the best-suited option.
• Egg Freezing – Women can choose to freeze their eggs during their peak fertility years, so as to use them at a later stage.
• Sperm Banking – When they are young, men can preserve sperm to counteract age-related decline.
• Donor Eggs or Sperm – Donor eggs or sperm can help those couples whose fertility might have been severely affected by age. Consulting an IVF doctor in Kolkata can help in evaluating these alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What effect does a woman’s age have on her ability to conceive naturally?

With advancing age, the fertility of a woman drops, and her chances of natural conception deteriorate. By the age of forty, the ovarian reserve and egg quality have drastically decreased. The most fertile and most likely to become pregnant are those in their 20s.

• When does a woman become significantly less fertile?

beyond age 32, it begins to drastically diminish, and beyond age 37, the decline quickens.  

• Does a man’s age have an impact on his fertility and chances of getting pregnant?

Yes, although not to the same extent as female age, advancing age in men can impact their fertility and the chances of conception.  

• Are spontaneous pregnancies still possible for women over 35, and what are the risks?

Yes, but they have a higher risk of suffering from some complications compared to younger mothers. These include miscarriage, gestational diabetes, birth defects, high blood pressure, low birth weight,and preterm birth.  

• What choices do older couples seeking to conceive have for fertility treatments?

They can choose from quite a few infertility treatment options like IUI, IVF with or without ICSI, gestational surrogacy, and egg donation. Assisted laser hatching is also used, along with IVF.  

• How can I evaluate the state of my fertility as I age?

You can talk about your worries with an infertility specialist. You might be recommended to undergo fertility tests and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

If you are planning to conceive later or happen to be older and want to conceive sooner, consult an infertility specialist and discuss all possible options that you can opt for. Try to know how age can affect your fertility, so that you can do better family planning and consider starting or expanding your family with more realistic expectations.