Unfortunately, the “biological clock” is not just a myth. Age can be one of our worst enemies when dealing with infertility.

More and more, as women wait longer before starting a family, age has the ability to become a significant obstacle. After age 30, cases of infertility increases for most women.

On a positive note, understanding what makes the biological clock “tick” can help individuals and couples to make educated decisions and open the door to discussions about when to start a family and when to seek help for issues related to conception.

AGE & INFERTILITY

The quality of a woman's eggs is vital when trying to conceive. After the age of 35, egg quality and quantity (on average) begin to steadily decline. This regression occurs more rapidly after age 40. As the quality of female eggs declines, it becomes more difficult to conceive.

 

FACTORS TO CONSIDER

• for most thirty-year old women, 12% of their eggs have the potential to become babies

• by age forty, only 40% of ‘good eggs’ remains

• chance of miscarriage rises from less than 10% for women in their twenties to as high as 90% for women age 45+

• age 25-35 is the optimal time for a healthy baby

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