How Age Affects Fertility?

Fertility plays an important role in reproductive health, and one of the factors that affects this is age. Both men and women experience changes, but these changes are more in women. The decline of quantity and quality of eggs, hormonal shifts, and other health complications is all because of age. Similarly, age-related issues can affect sperm quality and the health of the future little one. Understanding how age affects fertility can help you plan your family accordingly.

Biological Clock

The natural decline in reproductive potential as people age is termed as a biological clock. While men and women both experience changes in fertility over time, these changes are more prominent in women. For women, fertility is linked to the number and quality of eggs she has in her ovaries. Women are born with 1 to 2 million eggs at birth, and this number reduces as they grow old. By the time a woman reaches her mid-30s, the quality of her egg’s declines, and this has a significant impact on fertility.

On the other hand, men are capable of producing new sperm throughout their lives, but their age affects the quality of sperm as well. but still, they can become fathers in later years in their lives.

Fertility In Women

Women are most fertile in their 20s, as their ovarian reserve at that time is at its highest, and the egg quality is also good. Hormonal levels at that time are stable, and the chances of conceiving in unprotected sexual intercourse are also high. In addition to that, the chances of miscarriage and other such abnormalities are lowest. In recent times we have seen that women in their early 30s are also carrying out healthy pregnancies. Though as soon as a woman reaches 35 and above, the decline in fertility starts approaching. There is a decline in the number of eggs, and complications increase.

Fertility In Men

As men age, their quantity of sperm production does not get affected, but their quality does get affected. This is one of the main factors why successful fertilization cannot take place. On the other hand, older sperm have fragmented DNA, which increases the risk of miscarriages. Moreover, testosterone levels decrease with age, and this can affect sperm production and sexual health. Though the decline is gradual, it affects reproductive health.

The pressure of the biological clock increases stress and anxiety, and this complicates the overall conception. Medical advancements have reached such a level that nowadays conceiving at every age has now become possible. Some of the common options for this are:

• Women who want to become mothers at a later part of their lives can go for egg freezing to preserve fertility. Eggs are retrieved and stored in the peak years so that they can be used later.
  
• IVF can also be an effective way for older women and needs to be combined with donor eggs. The success rate of this whole procedure is actually a lot.
  
• Men who are worried about their sperm quality can preserve their sperm in sperm banks, and they can be used later for fertilization.

While age is just a factor that affects reproductive health, if you maintain a proper and healthy lifestyle, then you can have a good fertility rate even at a much older age. Maintaining the right weight plays an important part as it affects sperm production and ovulation. Habits such as drinking and smoking must be avoided by all means. Practices like yoga and meditation should be included in your daily routine as they help manage stress.

So, while age is an important factor in reproductive health, it’s just one part.