By Joseph A. Hill, III, M.D., Board-Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Potentially modifiable lifestyle factors can affect your ability to have a baby. These factors include age, smoking, caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, weight, diet and exposure to environmental pollutants. We will review the impact of these factors on fertility in the coming days and begin with the least modifiable factor, that of age.
AGE
The peak reproductive potential for women is age 29 with over 70% of women under age 30 trying to become pregnant successfully conceiving within three months. However, the ability to have a baby is not significantly compromised until after age 35 with only 40% of women >36 years old attempting pregnancy will actually do so within three months. Difficulty conceiving further accelerates at age 38 and by age 44 the chance of a successful pregnancy for those experiencing difficulty is less than 4%.
Age related decline in fertility is due to multiple reasons including decreased number and quality of potentially viable eggs (oocytes), increased chance of genetically (chromosomal) abnormal eggs and increased chance of pregnancy loss (miscarriage/spontaneous abortion). Despite the evidence for age related fertility decline most people remain unaware unfortunately delaying their evaluation and treatment.
The historical definition of infertility is one year of unprotected intercourse without producing a pregnancy. While this rigid definition may be applicable for women under age 35 who have monthly menstrual cycles, for those over 35, help from a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist should be sought after attempting pregnancy for only 6 months and right away for those age 40 and over.