The most important factor affecting your chances of getting pregnant is your age. Once you are over 36, your chances of getting pregnant naturally drop by half compared to when you are in your 20s.
This is because your chromosomally healthy egg production decreases with age, especially after the age of 36. If there is a history of early menopause in your family (if early menopause has been observed) (i.e. if there is a genetic predisposition to early menopause) or if you have received chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, the number of eggs that complete the maturation process may decrease even further. Chromosomal defects are more common in your egg cells with age, and as a result, abnormal embryo formation that cannot implant (i.e. cannot attach to the uterus) or miscarriages occur in the early stages of pregnancy.
Women can protect their fertility from the negative effects of the natural aging process with a healthy lifestyle. Avoiding smoking , alcohol and caffeine, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight are very important in this regard. However, protection from the negative effects of the aging process is still effective to some extent. Therefore, it is best to have a baby at an early age.
AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) Test
Anti-Müllerian Hormone Testing is a blood test commonly used to determine a woman's fertility. This hormone is an indicator of a woman's ovarian reserve (the amount of eggs remaining in the ovary). Although ovarian or egg reserve is not a measure of fertility, it is an important tool in determining fertility potential. The AMH test does not provide any information about the quality of the eggs, but it is the most accurate indicator of a woman's ovarian reserve.
Increased risk of miscarriage with age
The egg cell, like other cells in the body, has 46 chromosomes. However, this number must be halved to 23 in order to combine (match) with the chromosomes from the sperm cell. As a person ages, the division of the egg cell does not occur normally because the genetic material (during cell division) is not distributed in equal amounts. This situation causes an increasing rate of genetic anomalies. Unfortunately, this situation not only makes it more difficult for older women to get pregnant, but also means an increased rate of miscarriages and babies with genetic defects such as Down Syndrome.
Assisted Conception May Be Helpful
The chance of getting pregnant can be increased with advanced reproductive technologies , including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted pregnancy options. If you are between the ages of 36-40, you can increase your chance of getting pregnant by using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted pregnancy technologies. While the chance of pregnancy in natural pregnancy attempts that last more than 6 months is 5-8% in one month, this rate (chance of getting pregnant) is 25-45% in an InVitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle. Many factors can affect individual chances of success.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD): Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a testing method that allows the embryo to be examined for certain genetic and chromosomal defects prior to implantation. In this way, we can select the embryo that will provide the highest chance of pregnancy.
Fertility Preservation
The ages when a woman is most fertile are in her 20s and early 30s. Today, it is possible to freeze unfertilized eggs for future use. This relatively new technique gives women who are not fit to conceive or who are at risk of becoming pregnant due to a serious illness the chance to become pregnant in the future. However, this method is not legal in our country except for certain special cases. In women who will receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to cancer or a similar problem, these treatments have a negative effect on their egg reserve. For this reason, these women are allowed to freeze their eggs before chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However, it has not been proven to be beneficial in women over the age of 38.
The Effect of Male Age on Reproduction
Although there is a decrease in sperm quality after the age of 45, the effect of age on reproduction is not as important in men as it is in women. However, the risk of having a baby with a health problem (disability or disease) is slightly higher in men over the age of 45.
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