Infertility caused by advanced maternal age is becoming more common

At Fertility Answers, we realize that more women are putting off starting a family to focus on their education, their career and finding the perfect partner. However, delaying pregnancy for too long can result in problems getting pregnant. Our Louisiana fertility centers offer treatment options for infertility issues caused by advanced maternal age.

Women of advanced maternal age have decreased reproductive potential

Although women today are generally taking better care of themselves, healthy habits cannot stop a woman’s natural decline in fertility because female fertility naturally decreases with age. As a woman ages, the quality and quantity of her eggs decline.

• Women in their 20s have a 20-25% chance for pregnancy each month.
• Women in their 30s have a 15-20% chance for pregnancy each month.
• Women in their 40s have a less than 5% chance for pregnancy each month.
• Women between 45 and 49 have a 1% chance for pregnancy each month.

If you are 35 years of age or older, our fertility specialists recommend visiting one of our South Louisiana fertility centers after trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for six months.

There are several treatment options available for women of advanced maternal age

Depending on your unique situation, the fertility specialists at our South Louisiana fertility centers may recommend one or more of the following fertility treatment options.

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, may involve taking fertility medication to stimulate egg production. When you are ready to ovulate, your physician will transfer your partner’s sperm directly into your uterus. This treatment is used less often in women over 40, as the success rate is less than 5% per cycle. There is a 10% success rate in women between the ages of 35 and 40.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, also involves taking fertility medication. However, instead of allowing fertilization to occur inside of your uterus, your physician will remove your eggs and fertilize them with your partner’s sperm in the IVF laboratory. IVF has a 10% success rate per cycle in women over 40.

Donor egg IVF is often recommended for women who are over 42 and have not found success with other fertility treatments. With donor egg IVF, a healthy woman in her 20s or 30s will donate her eggs. Her eggs will be fertilized in the IVF laboratory with your partner’s sperm and you will then carry the pregnancy. For women in their mid-40s, donor egg IVF is the only effective fertility treatment.

The most important message for patients of advanced maternal age to hear is that pregnancy is often possible with the right combination of fertility treatments.

If you have questions about fertility treatment options for advanced maternal age, contact Fertility Answers today for an appointment.