Infertility, Cause & Solution Part 4

Dear readers, to continue on this topic, i would like to bring to your notice a very improtant fact "the age factor" (seems to be neglected now a days)

Is Age Just a Number?

Facts you should know related to female age and fertility. For everything in life, you can consider or accept the line Age is just a Number, but not in matters related to fertility. We must respect the age in fertility matters. If the proper age for fertility once gone, nothing in life can replace it.

How does age affect fertility? The Biological clock!

When a girl attains puberty, it marks the beginning of her reproductive life of the girl. During teenage years & up to around 20 years, female reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus) gradually mature. A girl has the highest reproductive potential between 21 to 30 years of age and then gradually it starts declining. As every start has an end, a woman's fertility also comes to an end with menopause occurs usually between 40-50 years of age. And this is called the Biological Clock.

How does age affect a woman's eggs?

Women begin life with a fixed number of eggs in their ovaries. The number and quality of eggs decrease as women get older. Also, the remaining eggs in older women are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes which affect fertility. If a woman is trying for pregnancy for at least one year and she is not able to, in the infertility investigation check-up, her egg quality must be checked. This is called Ovarian Reserve Testing.

What is Ovarian Reserve Testing?

This is a test to determine the Quality of eggs, a woman possesses at a particular time of life. Though many tests are available, at present AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) testing gives the most accurate and authentic result. According to the AMH value, the treatment protocol can be adjusted for the women. Usually, the AMH value starts to decline as the women cross 30 years of age, but sometimes we may find low AMH below 30 years also.

How much low is low?

As the age increases, the ovarian reserve (or AMH value) decreases.

And as the AMH value decreases. the fertility potential (chances of pregnancy) decreases & chances of miscarriages and abnormal baby increases.

What is Reproductive Life Plan?

We can't stop our biological clock according to our wishes. With the passage of every single day, we are getting old & so with it egg quality of a female. All women should think about whether they would like to have children and, if so when to have them? This is called a reproductive life plan. The next step is to put the plan into action. Every day counts. The earlier one takes proper steps, the sooner one gets nearer to the baby.

If a woman would like to have children someday, her plan can be a simple statement like, I would like to finish college, graduation, need a decent job, settled in life and have more money saved before having children" or I would like to have children before I cross 30 years of age when my chances for a healthy pregnancy are best.

Plan wisely to Get the best from your Reproductive Life. If you have to choose between kids and work, always go for kids. There will be plenty of time later to do all the work.