Is age a crucial factor in fertility? Does the risk of pregnancy increase as we age?

Worried about all these? Don't worry! Karetrip is here to help you.

Age and fertility are interrelated and are fundamental in reproductive health, shaping individuals' decisions regarding family planning and influencing public health strategies.

This blog will examine how age affects couples fertility, the biological processes that are behind age-related variations, the social and psychological outcomes, and possible initiatives to address age-related fertility deterioration.

Women's Age and Fertilit

It is proven that fertility of women has a close connection with their age, with a small dip in the beginning in the early 30s and speeds up rapidly after mid 30’s.

As you have learned women are born with a finite number of eggs, roughly in between 1-2 million at the time of their birth, which shrinks to about 300,000 when they attain puberty and keeps decreasing throughout their lifespan. By the age of 37, the count of usable eggs drops notably, and by menopause, the ovarian repository is almost consumed.

A female in her early to mid-20s has a 25–30% probability of getting conceived every month. The capacity to get conceived typically begins to gradually diminish when a woman reaches her early 30s, and after the age of 35, the drop becomes faster. By the age of 40, the probability of getting pregnant in any given month is only about 5%.

Biological Mechanisms For Women

Several biological factors contribute to the reduction in female fertility with age.

• Egg Quantity and Quality

As females get older, both the number and quality of their oocytes or eggs drop. The chance of chromosomal defects in eggs accelerates, leading to higher rates of miscarriage and birth deformities such as Down syndrome.

• Hormonal Alterations:

Hormonal differences which are associated with age, particularly in the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), cause a decline in ovarian stock and predict reduced chances of fertility.

• Uterine Changes:

The environment in the uterus may also become least favorable for pregnancy as women get older. There is an increased chance of the appearance of fibroids and other uterine related issues like Prolonged menstruation, Fatigue, Recurrent bladder infections and so on and it can affect one's fertility.

• Functioning of Mitochondria:

Mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, degrades as one gets older. Since oocytes heavily rely on mitochondrial function, this diminishment can affect the capability and developmental potential of the eggs.

Male Fertility and Age

Although men remain fertile for a longer time Period than women, male fertility too drops as they get older, but slowly and less noticeably.

Male fertility commonly begins to diminish around the age of 40 to 45, when the quality of the sperm decreases .

As men age, the overall likelihood of achieving pregnancy decreases, the time to pregnancy (the number of menstrual cycles required to conceive) increases, and the risk of miscarriage and fetal death rises.

Biological Mechanisms For Men

• Sperm Quality

Age influences various features of sperm quality, like motility (movement), morphology (shape), and DNA integrity. Older men generally produce sperm with higher DNA fragmentation, which will affect individuals fertilization and embryo development.

• Levels of Testosterone :

The levels of testosterone slowly decrease with the passage of age, which can affect sperm production and sexual function.

• Genetic Mutations:

The likelihood of genetic mutations in sperm increases with age, raising the risk of conditions such as autism and schizophrenia in offspring.

• Social and Psychological Influences

The decline in fertility with age has considerable social and psychological consequences. In modern society, many individuals and couples postpone childbearing due to educational, career, and financial factors. This delay often leads to difficulties in conceiving later in life.

Psychological Impact

• Stress and Anxiety

The pressure to conceive before the biological clock runs out can cause significant stress and anxiety for a couple . This stress can lead to unsuccessful attempts to conceive, resulting in a cycle of emotional distress.

• Relationship Strain:

Fertility issues can affect the relationships negatively, especially if one partner is more impacted by the age-related decline than the other. The emotional burden can lead to feelings of guilt, blame, and resentment.

Social Impact

• Family Dynamics:

Older mothers and fathers may come across unique challenges, including the physical demands of parenting later in life and potential generational differences with their children.

• The art of managing Personal and professional Life:

Managing a career alongside the parenting responsibilities can be more difficult for older individuals, who may also be facing age-related health problems.

Interventions and Solutions

There are several steps that are available to address age-related fertility decline.

• ART or Assisted Reproductive Technologies:

Methods such as in vitro fertilization as it is commonly called and intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICS can help individuals in conceiving when natural methods are not that effective . Preimplantation genetic testing or PGT can also be utilized to examine embryos for chromosomal defects.

• Freezing Techniques of Egg and Sperm:

Cryopreservation of eggs and sperm at a younger age can preserve fertility and provide more choices for conception in the later stages of life.

• Hormonal Treatments:

Hormonal therapies can help to manage age-related hormonal variations and improve fertility outcomes.

• Modifications in Lifestyle:

Maintaining a nutritious living habit, which includes a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding smoking and excessive intake of alcohol, can improve the chances of fertility in both males as well as females.

The association between age and fertility is a multifaceted interrelation of biological, social, and psychological factors. Comprehending this connection is important in making proper choices with regard to one's family planning and for creating steps to resist the effects of age-related fertility decline.

Developments in reproductive technologies and increased awareness of the influence of age on fertility can help individuals and couples in reaching their desired family goals, even amidst these biological hindrances.

As norms in society keep evolving, focusing on the challenges that are associated with delayed childbearing will continue to be an important public health and social concern.