Lucknow: The harsh truth about human fertility is that time has a profound impact on it. Still, many couples above 35 years of age in India delay getting fertility tests done. They think it’s too early, or that fertility declines with age are overstated. This false belief takes away many precious months and the fertility that decreases with age may not be restored.
Dr. Shreya Gupta, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility and IVF, Lucknow says that biologically speaking, fertility does not remain stable after 35 years. Women’s chances of conceiving naturally begin to decline gradually in their early 30s, and the decline becomes more pronounced after 35. The chances of pregnancy may decrease to a lower percentage every month. Despite this, awareness about this decline is extremely limited. One study found that only about 8 percent of women considered age over 35 to be the biggest risk factor for infertility. Most were also unclear as to when was the right time to seek help. It is this lack of understanding that causes many couples to wait a year or more—whereas this rule is not appropriate for those over 35.
Now medical organizations have a clear advice that if couples above 35 years of age are unable to conceive even after six months of trying, they should undergo fertility testing. This advice is not based on any guesswork. The evidence behind this is that natural pregnancy rates decline over time, and early detection may reveal problems—such as declining egg counts or male-related difficulties—that may become more complex later.
It is also important to understand that reproduction is not limited to conception only. It also deals with how long it takes to conceive and how to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. It may be advisable to wait for some time under the age of 35, but after 35 the same waiting strategy can make the situation more difficult.
Delay in investigation reduces options. The number and quality of eggs decreases with age, the likelihood of miscarriage increases, and the success rates of assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF also decrease per cycle. Age-related deterioration often results in the need for more procedures and more testing to increase the chance of success.
Considering timing as an important factor, taking steps within a period of six months gives couples more clarity and often times better results. Recognizing the importance of time in reproduction is not panic, but wisdom.
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