Infertility and Age

Fertility problems can be a result of age, as both men and women's chances of conception decrease significantly with age.

Age and Female Fertility

Despite an increase in the percentage of middle-aged women who are successfully getting pregnant, studies have shown that women using their own eggs have a minimal chance of becoming pregnant after the age of 40. Those women over 40 who do become pregnant using their own eggs face a heightened risk of miscarriage.

The reason female infertility becomes more likely over time is that egg production declines as a woman enters middle age, with many of the eggs produced containing chromosomal flaws that may cause infertility, birth defects, or miscarriage.

Age and Male Fertility

As more research is done on the subject, it has been determined that age can be the cause of female and male infertility. One study concluded that male infertility increased each year, resulting in an 11 percent decrease in successful pregnancies. As men age, their sperm declines in quality, volume, and motility.

Consult a Fertility Doctor to Improve Your Chances of Conception

Infertility treatments, including egg and sperm donation, are helpful in improving fertility. Women and men over the age of 35 who are having infertility problems should meet with infertility specialists to determine if age is the cause of their infertility.