Age Affecting Your Fertility

With more and more couples deciding to hold off on having children it is no small wonder that many men and women are not finding out about potential fertility troubles until later in life today than in the past. There are many myths surrounding fertility and infertility in genera. Because of all the myths some people, particularly those who are trying to conceive are finding it difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to fertility.

Fertility is affected to no small degree by the age of the female. While it is not uncommon for men to father children as they age women because of obvious physiological reasons have a limit when it comes to childbearing years. This is one of the reasons why people will make comments about biological clocks ticking away.

The problem with waiting lies in the fact that many women are waiting until their 30's to try and build a family. This is typically fine if you are in your early 30's and want only one child but as you age, the odds of conceiving diminish rapidly once you've passed the 30-year mark. The odds of conceiving within one year at the age of 30 are roughly 75%, at the age of 35 those odds decrease to 66%, and at the age 40 only 44% of women actively trying to conceive are likely to become pregnant within one year.

You should also take note that the facts and figures above only concern conception and not carrying the baby to term or delivering a healthy baby. There are other risks that increase as the female ages when it comes to fertility and having a baby in general. There is an increased risk for diseases such as Down Syndrome as the mother ages that shouldn't be overlooked.

Other risks for pregnancy as you age include a greater risk for gestational diabetes, miscarriages early in the pregnancy, and greater occurrences of placenta previa. If you are well aware of the risk and still hope to conceive after 30 you should carefully discuss your options with your physician.

Some things your doctor might suggest as you begin trying to conceive is that you begin taking prenatal vitamins in order to give your baby his or her best possible start. Other suggestions may be to get in shape, lose weight, and begin eating a healthy diet that is rich in nutrients that your baby will need in order to develop properly. Your doctor will probably suggest that you quit smoking (if you smoke) and do not drink or take any medications that may put a baby at risk. Many of us are pregnant a little while before it dawns on us so eliminating as much risky behavior in a situation that already has elevated risks is the best course of action.

If you have tried without success to conceive for a year and are over the age of 30 you should make plans to immediately consult with a fertility specialist. He or she may be able to either identify or rule out any potential roadblocks to your fertility efforts. A baby is a miracle at any age and the decision to wait until you are at a more stable and secure point in your life is a responsible choice that shouldn't exclude you from being the parent you wish to become.