The ability to reproduce is a gift of nature to help keep our generations going and to allow us to experience love, affection, and family bonding. The ability to reproduce depends on many factors – women’s age and fertility, egg quality and quantity, the health of the reproductive system, and other underlying issues are some of the key factors in women. In men, sperm quality and morphology and underlying health conditions influence fertility.
The ability to produce a mature egg that can turn into a healthy embryo through fertilization defines female fertility. Fertility decreases in both men and women, and we see the rate of reproduction declining with age. Age affects many parameters, and the chances of a successful conception in the minimum menstrual cycles keep regressing. This article details women’s age and fertility and how they influence the ability to conceive and have a healthy baby.
In This Article
- Egg Quality And Quantity- How Do They Matter?
- Woman’s Age And Fertility – How Are They Connected?
- Effects of Ageing on Women’s Fertility
- FAQ’s
Egg Quality And Quantity- How Do They Matter?
Typically, a woman is born with a fixed number of eggs in her ovary. There are around 1-2 million eggs, which keep declining and reach a count of 300,000-400,000 eggs till a girl reaches puberty. Having those many eggs does not mean that all of them can mature. The eggs degenerate (atresia) unaffected by puberty, reproductive years, and menopause. When the girl reaches her reproductive stage, only one or two eggs grow fully for fertilization every month during the menstrual cycle.
Age is the only factor that affects the quality of the eggs that an ovary produces. During the beginning of the menstrual cycle, a hormone called Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) stimulates the ovaries to produce small structures called follicles. Follicles are the fluid-filled bags that hold eggs inside. Among those follicles, only one or two can grow fully. These mature follicles rupture to release eggs, while a healthy egg has high chances of fertilization within one or two menstrual cycles.
Woman’s Age And Fertility – How Are They Connected?
For a successful pregnancy, egg quality is vital. Young women produce healthy eggs which are good in quality and are eligible for fertilization in minimum menstrual cycles. But the quality and quantity of the eggs decline with growing age. Women stop producing their eggs as they slowly degenerate and die, and this stage is called menopause.
18-24 Years of Age
- Women between the age of 18-and 24 are highly fertile and can have a success rate in getting pregnant.
- These women will be at low risk of pregnancy complications.
- Eggs at this age will be of good quality.
25-30 Years of Age
- At this age, the quality of the egg slowly starts to decline.
- The chances of getting pregnant between 25-and 30 fall to 20% with each menstrual cycle.
30-35 Years of Age
- Women of this age have a minimum of 35000 eggs in their ovaries.
- The quantity and quality of the eggs will be lower.
- The chances of getting a successful pregnancy come down to 12% with each menstrual cycle.
35-40 Years of Age
- After 35, the ability to be fertile starts to go down steeply.
- The chances of getting pregnant with a single menstrual cycle fall to 5%
- The quality and quantity of the egg go down as it goes through the aging process.
40+ Years of Age
- When a woman crosses 40, the number of reserved eggs diminishes rapidly.
- Women above forty have less than a 5% chance of getting a successful pregnancy.
Effects of Ageing on Women’s Fertility
With aging, the success rates of alternative fertility treatments also start to decline. Egg quality is associated with InVItro Fertilization (IVF) and IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Doctors look for a good quality egg for successful fertilization and embryo transfer. The success rates of IVF and ICSI according to age are in decreasing order from age 30-to 40. A study shows that the fertility of a woman starts to decline after the 30s. It does not mean that there is no chance of pregnancy, but it takes longer to get a positive pregnancy test. The egg reserve in the ovaries starts to decrease with age affecting the quality and quantity.
Aging in women may also lead to pregnancy complications and other issues like
- Stillbirth
- Preterm birth
- Congenital problems in babies
- Birth defects in babies
- Pre-eclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- Thyroid
Women’s age and fertility are interrelated. Although many reasons in the present generation contribute to the decline in female fertility, age is one most important factor. However, alternate treatments have increased the chances of positive conceptions in many women. Older women with poor egg quality can also get pregnant with their eggs and have healthy babies. Ensure to see your gynaecologist if you are planning a pregnancy. Early age pregnancies have minimal or nil complications and high chances of healthy live births.
FAQ’s
1. At What Age do You Stop Ovulating?
Once women reach the age of 52, they stop ovulating, and this stage is called menopause.
2. Does Age Affect Fertility?
Age is one key factor that affects fertility in both males and females. The quality of the egg starts to decline with age, which affects the ability for fertilization.
3. What is The Easiest Age For a Woman to Get Pregnant?
Women in their early twenties are highly fertile. Pregnancies in these women claim the lowest risk of complications and can have healthy births.
