GRSJ224/Issues of Fertility in Older Women
Background
Issues of fertility among older women mainly revolve around the fact that fertility decreases as women age. Age is considered one of those important factors that can affect a woman’s ability to conceive. It has been suggested by health specialists that the prime age for women to have children are in their 20's as fertility starts to decrease after that. This is not saying that pregnancy is not possible at all for women who are past their twenties but rather only saying that decreasing fertility effects the potential of a successful impregnation [1]. In terms of pregnancy and fertility, nothing good comes from age. Although age is an issue that most women need to keep in mind when they're planning to start a family, women today are beginning to have children at later ages in their lives. In fact, in the United States, research in recent years have found that the average age for women choosing to have their first child has increased to 26 years old from 22.3 years in the 1980's [2]
Age on Fertility and Pregnancy
Fertility rates start to decrease when most women enter their thirties. Chances of pregnancy are at 15-20 percent for women who are in their 30s. From there, fertility rates continue to decrease until the age of 35 where fertility begins to drop more significantly [3]. The result of decreasing fertility at this age can lead to problems and concerns related to the infant. By the age of 40, only two in five women who want to give birth are successful in doing so. Miscarriage is often an issue in older women; with age, the risk of a miscarriage also increases. By the age of 45, it is estimated that one in two pregnancies are at risk of a miscarriage. In addition to that, ectopic pregnancies (See also: Ectopic Pregnancy) are also more common in older women [4]. Ectopic pregnancies occur when embryos attached to the outside of the uterus. Other pregnancy complications related to age includes high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, placental abruption and placenta praevia. Women who choose to have children at an older age are urged to visit their physicians for check ups more often.
- Some ways that age effects fertility in women includes [5]
- increased chance of miscarriage
- infertility
- ovaries are not as efficient at releasing eggs
- health and quality of eggs decrease
- other age related health issues that may effect fertility
Menopause and Infertility
After puberty hits, a woman’s fertility begins to increase and then decrease as their age increases. After the age of 45, the chance of having a successful impregnation is only at percent. When women hit menopause, usually around the ages of 45-55 (may vary depending on person), their fertility significantly decreases [6]. At this time, their reproductive systems slow down and their chances of conceiving are extremely low. It is noted that the chance of a potential pregnancy is only 1 percent as women reach the ages of 45-49. It is important to note that with age, the number and quality of eggs available for conceiving also decreases; this leads to reduced fertility at older ages. However, this does not mean that pregnancy is not possible at all for women who wish to conceive at a later age. The percentages and rates listed above are for women who wish to conceive naturally; alternatives for pregnancy such as through donor eggs or in vitro fertilization are possible for older women [7].
Pregnancy for Older Women
Although the chances of becoming pregnant decreases with age as mentioned above, it is not impossible. There are cases where older women are able to become pregnant. However, it is important to note that being pregnant at older ages brings along with it potential risks to the infant and the mother. As mentioned before, risks to the mother include miscarriage, gestational diabetes, ectopic pregnancies, and delivery complications [8]. Gestational diabetes (see also: Gestational Diabetes) is a type of diabetes that only pregnant mothers can develop. This type of diabetes is related to high blood sugar levels during pregnancy with women who were not diabetic prior to their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can lead to infants being at risk of being too large during birth and jaundice. Other risks related to high maternal age for infants include an increased probability for Down Syndrome. It is estimated that women who are 40 have a 1 in 90 chance of giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome. This rate increases to 1 in 30 for women who are 45. Risks of other chromosomal abnormalities are 1 in 66 for women who are 40 and 1 in 21 for women who are 45 [9].
See Also
References
Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board. "Your Age and Fertility." BabyCentre. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2016.
Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board. "How Age Affects Pregnancy." BabyCentre. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.
"EPublications." Infertility Fact Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2016
Carl T. Hall, Chronicle Science Writer. "Study Speeds up Biological Clocks / Fertility Rates Dip after Women Hit 27." SFGate. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.
Kincaid, Ellie. "American Women Are Waiting Longer than Ever to Become Mothers." Business Insider. Business Insider, 15 June 2015. Web. 3 Dec. 2016.
"How Menopause Affects Fertility." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 07 Dec. 2011. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.
Port, Dina Roth. "What to Know About Infertility in Your 20s, 30s, and 40s." Parents. N.p., 18 Aug. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2016.