An article in the Los Angeles Times recently touted the benefits of the economic recession in terms of women delaying pregnancy.
While I believe that there are certainly advantages (as described by the author) to later-aged motherhood, I think we need to tread carefully when discussing the impact of age on fertility in general.
The majority of women (and men) have no idea what their body's fertility status is until they try to conceive. Unfortunately for some, the news is not only alarming but comes too late for them to take advantage of treatment in an optimal way.
Of the many causes for infertility, many (perhaps most) are not age-related, it's true. But that rosy perspective can work in reverse -- if a woman's not ovulating or if her tubes are blocked, it doesn't matter how old she is: she won't get pregnant without assistance.
While we're looking for silver linings to the recession's dark cloud, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Showing posts with label age. Show all posts
Showing posts with label age. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
How Old Is Too Old?
Recently, a local colleague of mine was quoted in the media about having an "an age cutoff" for fertility treatment, specifically IVF. I thought I'd enter the field to air my own thoughts on the question of "how old is too old" for becoming a mom.
In my practice at Houston Fertility Center, I don't use any particular age to determine whether a woman is "too old" to use IVF. Mother Nature will determine when a patient's body is unable to conceive. So we explore the same related variables -- egg reserve, uterine health, hormone levels -- with every patient.
Our primary emphasis is on the health of the hopeful mother-to-be.
As for IVF using donor eggs, which allows women with low ovarian reserve to become pregnant, I find that women in the age range of 48 to 50 are starting to think again about the impact (of carrying a pregnancy) on both their health and the outcome for the baby. We presently don't have enough data to clearly determine all health issues for women over 50 years old who become pregnant. Research has clarified, however, that children born to mothers in their later years have a higher risk of a number of health conditions.
As with virtually every other facet of the conception picture, a woman's age must be taken into consideration, but primarily in the context of her present health condition.
For more of my thoughts on a woman's age and her fertility, see these blogposts, too:
The Other Side of the Age & Fertility Message
Trying to Get Pregnant After 30 - Time to Panic?
ASRM Embryo Guidelines Should Improve Overall Picture for Fertility Patients
In my practice at Houston Fertility Center, I don't use any particular age to determine whether a woman is "too old" to use IVF. Mother Nature will determine when a patient's body is unable to conceive. So we explore the same related variables -- egg reserve, uterine health, hormone levels -- with every patient.
Our primary emphasis is on the health of the hopeful mother-to-be.
As for IVF using donor eggs, which allows women with low ovarian reserve to become pregnant, I find that women in the age range of 48 to 50 are starting to think again about the impact (of carrying a pregnancy) on both their health and the outcome for the baby. We presently don't have enough data to clearly determine all health issues for women over 50 years old who become pregnant. Research has clarified, however, that children born to mothers in their later years have a higher risk of a number of health conditions.
As with virtually every other facet of the conception picture, a woman's age must be taken into consideration, but primarily in the context of her present health condition.
For more of my thoughts on a woman's age and her fertility, see these blogposts, too:
The Other Side of the Age & Fertility Message
Trying to Get Pregnant After 30 - Time to Panic?
ASRM Embryo Guidelines Should Improve Overall Picture for Fertility Patients
Monday, May 17, 2010
Birth Control Pills: Not Necessarily The Culprit
The 50th anniversary of "the birth control pill" has come and gone recently (on Mother's Day, how coincidental!) and an article in U.S. News & World Report focused on the impact that oral contraceptives have had on our world.
Interestingly, the writer stated that, among other results, the pill is responsible for an "epidemic" of infertility.
It turns out that the author is referring to how the use of the pill resulted in delayed childbearing in our society -- on a grand scale, not in terms of individual women. More women are able to put off getting pregnant until it better suits their life, as a direct result of the pill. There's hardly anyone who would call that a bad thing!
But I do have patients who come to me, worried that their years of trying responsibly to not get pregnant have worked against them now that they want to have a baby.
The truth is that studies consistently indicate no direct connections between using oral contraceptives and later infertility. I know that a lot of women, especially those who are diagnosed with unexplained infertility, are still hesitant to believe what research tells us on this point. And to be sure, once they're in my office, it's rather moot.
It's normal to think back to what you might have done differently. It can also aid in diagnosis (and possibly treatment) to review your history thoroughly, looking for answers to your own baby-making dilemma. But dwelling on this particular "common sense" connection (between oral contraceptive use and later infertility) that continues to be denied as fact-based by researchers... just isn't helpful for you. We also have to be careful not to discourage young, responsible women from making smart choices for their reproductive lives.
Interestingly, the writer stated that, among other results, the pill is responsible for an "epidemic" of infertility.
It turns out that the author is referring to how the use of the pill resulted in delayed childbearing in our society -- on a grand scale, not in terms of individual women. More women are able to put off getting pregnant until it better suits their life, as a direct result of the pill. There's hardly anyone who would call that a bad thing!
But I do have patients who come to me, worried that their years of trying responsibly to not get pregnant have worked against them now that they want to have a baby.
The truth is that studies consistently indicate no direct connections between using oral contraceptives and later infertility. I know that a lot of women, especially those who are diagnosed with unexplained infertility, are still hesitant to believe what research tells us on this point. And to be sure, once they're in my office, it's rather moot.
It's normal to think back to what you might have done differently. It can also aid in diagnosis (and possibly treatment) to review your history thoroughly, looking for answers to your own baby-making dilemma. But dwelling on this particular "common sense" connection (between oral contraceptive use and later infertility) that continues to be denied as fact-based by researchers... just isn't helpful for you. We also have to be careful not to discourage young, responsible women from making smart choices for their reproductive lives.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Other Side of the Age & Fertility Message
Just on the heels of a study declaring that 30-year-old women have lost most of their 'good' eggs, comes a report out of the UK that women in their 30's and 40's are winding up "accidentally" pregnant because they thought their chances at pregnancy were up.
The claims being made by the British Family Planning Association (FPA) are that messages about women's age and fertility are "overplayed" and leading to something like reverse anxiety. The organization, with a mission of enabling informed sexual health choices, is heading up a new public information campaign to remind women that unless they're willing to get pregnant without trying, contraceptives should be used until after menopause.
One of the messages in the FPA campaign: "Fertility. You'd be surprised how long it takes to disappear."
Menopause is defined as not having a period for at least a year. Perimenopause is what we call the years leading up to that final menstrual period. Perimenopause can last from a couple of years to more than five, and some women are fertile throughout that time.
I'm in agreement that women should remain vigilant about their chances for pregnancy until they are clearly no longer fertile. However, to imply that the messages being sent (about women's age and the natural decrease in fertility) are anything other than appropriate is itself an overstatement.
The claims being made by the British Family Planning Association (FPA) are that messages about women's age and fertility are "overplayed" and leading to something like reverse anxiety. The organization, with a mission of enabling informed sexual health choices, is heading up a new public information campaign to remind women that unless they're willing to get pregnant without trying, contraceptives should be used until after menopause.
One of the messages in the FPA campaign: "Fertility. You'd be surprised how long it takes to disappear."
Menopause is defined as not having a period for at least a year. Perimenopause is what we call the years leading up to that final menstrual period. Perimenopause can last from a couple of years to more than five, and some women are fertile throughout that time.
I'm in agreement that women should remain vigilant about their chances for pregnancy until they are clearly no longer fertile. However, to imply that the messages being sent (about women's age and the natural decrease in fertility) are anything other than appropriate is itself an overstatement.
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