It is an unfortunate reality that the later a woman waits to get pregnant, the more risk factors there are associated with the pregnancy process. Many women today are having kids later in life, for a multitude of reasons: their careers, financial stability, lack of a suitable partner, or even just not feeling emotionally or physically prepared for motherhood yet. Regardless of the reason, pregnancy can become more challenging for mothers aged 35 and over. There are higher risks associated with the pregnancy for both the mother and child, but thankfully there are also treatment options available to help ensure the process is as smooth as possible. Let’s get into what exactly age-related infertility is, and what some of the available fertility treatment options are.
As women age, the frequency of ovulation diminishes, as do ovarian reserves. This means a marked increase of infertility in women ages 35 and older. We are all born with a certain number of eggs, and once we reach what is considered the age of “mature pregnancy” (35 years), these eggs deplete in both quantity and quality. It also becomes much more difficult for these eggs to be fertilized than it would have been in years prior.
Aneuploidy is also more likely to occur with mature pregnancies. This is when the number of chromosomes a cell has doesn’t reach 46. This increases the risk of the pregnancy ending in a miscarriage. Additionally, it can cause a number of health disorders, such as Trisomy, where there is an extra copy of a chromosome; or Monosomy, where only one chromosome from a pair is present in cells. Conditions like Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome and Autism are all the result of embryos forming with aneuploidy.
Infertility in women increases with age no matter how healthy an individual is. The likelihood of pregnancy drops for each decade of a woman’s life. The following statistics emphasize the importance of undergoing female infertility tests prior to treatment in order to find the fertility treatment options that are best for you.
| Age | Chance of pregnancy each month |
|---|---|
| 20-29 | 20-25% |
| 30-39 | 15-20% |
| 40-44 | <5% |
| 45-49 | <1% |
As with any medical treatment, there are risks to consider prior to seeking infertility treatments. Here are a few of the main risks to consider before getting started on your IUI or IVF journey.
The likelihood of having twins increases with age. Due to changes in hormones, two eggs could be released at once, resulting in twins. It is also still common for fertility specialists to recommend older mothers transfer more than one embryo during IVF, which can result in multiple pregnancies.
Babies who are premature have a higher likelihood of having medical problems, which can be challenging for both the parents and the child.
For potential mothers 35 years and older, there is more likely to be health complications related to the pregnancy that can necessitate a c-section delivery. Fortunately, these days the procedure is quite sophisticated.
As previously mentioned, with a mature pregnancy, the chances of having a child with aneuploidy increases. Trisomy often results in miscarriages, and in cases where they do result in live births, their survival rate is often much lower than average due to birth defects. Monosomies often result in live births where the children have Turner Syndrome.
As maternal age increases, unfortunately so does the risk of miscarriages or stillbirths. This could be due to pre-existing medical conditions within the mother or chromosomal factors with the child. This could also be due to the reduced fertility potential of the eggs in older women.
Despite the fact that there are more health risks associated with mature pregnancies, it is still worth looking into your fertility treatment options. Even for older mothers, new assisted reproductive technology paired with the range of fertility support products make for a higher chance of a successful pregnancy.
This option can involve taking fertility medication in order to stimulate egg production. Then, when you are ready for ovulation, your partner’s (or the donor’s) sperm will be transferred directly into your uterus. As far as fertility treatment options go, this one is used less often in women over the age of 40, as their success rate is less than 5% per cycle. For women between the ages of 35 and 40, however, there is about a 10% success rate per cycle.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most commonly known infertility treatments. IVF treatment involves taking fertility medication in the form of hormonal support; and the egg fertilization process occurs outside of the body in the lab. Eggs are retrieved by your physician and fertilized with partner/donor sperm in the laboratory. Though more effective than IUI, the IVF success rate for mothers over 40 is still less than 10% per cycle. It is important to discuss options with your doctor prior to starting an IVF cycle.
This IVF option is often recommended for women over the age of 42 who have had failed attempts using other infertility treatments. The donor egg(s) are donated by a healthy woman in her 20s or 30s and will be fertilized in the laboratory before being implanted, then you will carry the pregnancy to term. For most women in this age range, using a donor egg is one of the only methods that will be successful and aid the IVF success rate. However, prior to undergoing any form of in vitro fertilization, it is important to get a female infertility test and consider all of your options.
If you are struggling to conceive, it is always best to consult a fertility specialist prior to beginning IUI or IVF treatment. They will be able to help diagnose the root of your infertility and provide you with infertility treatments that offer you the best chances of success.
A great way to support your fertility journey and find what infertility treatments have worked for others who have had a similar experience is to seek out community online. There are plenty of websites and apps that offer safe spaces for those undergoing fertility treatments and navigating their pregnancy journeys together. If you’re wondering where to get started finding these support groups, Moms in the Making, The Fertility Institute, Resolve and Expectful all have wonderful resources and communities that will help you find your people, whether you’re in your first round of IVF treatment or you’re just seeking out options.
No matter if you’re already exploring the new assisted reproductive technology available or if this is your first look into the world of infertility treatments, there is hope out there for you. Contact your doctor about conducting a female infertility test today, and start something beautiful.
