Maternal ages have been rising steadily in the United States. Today, the average age for first childbirth is 27.5, and the average age for third births is around 31.
Many women are finding that a more advanced maternal age better suits their lifestyles as they concentrate on careers, partners, and life during their 20s. But how much does waiting to have kids affect fertility?
To explore this answer, we turn to board-certified gynecologist Dr. Karen F. Brodman, who specializes in women’s health and fertility issues.
When we discuss age-related fertility issues, it’s a good idea to start with egg quantity.
Interestingly, your body contains the most gametes, which are egg cells and the female equivalent of sperm, before you’re even born. In utero, females have about 6 million to 7 million gametes at about the 20-week gestation mark.
At birth, this number drops to 1 to 2 million oocytes, which are immature eggs. From there, the number of eggs continues to drop, leaving you with 300,000 to 500,000 at puberty. 25,000 at age 37, and around 1,000 at age 51.
So, it doesn’t require a good deal of math to figure out that egg availability declines significantly as you proceed through your reproductive years.
Another issue that can occur is that egg quality declines with age. As the supply of eggs dwindles, the remaining eggs are more vulnerable to issues like abnormal chromosomes, which can affect the baby’s health.
Another issue that can affect your fertility the older you get are gynecologic conditions. Prime examples of this are endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and uterine fibroids.
When it comes to endometriosis and fibroids, these can be progressive conditions that create more problems as time goes by.
To put some numbers to the decline in female fertility that comes with age, consider this: In their 20s and 30s, 1 in 4 women will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle. By the age of 40, this number drops to 1 in 10.
While we’ve presented some concerning numbers, we want to underscore the fact that plenty of women successfully build families in their 30s and 40s.
If you’re concerned about waiting to start your family, we suggest that you come in for a fertility evaluation during which we can check your ovulation and your reproductive health.
Rest assured, we’ve helped many women build families later in life, and we’re happy to support your efforts.
To get started on a fertility evaluation, please contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brodman at our New York City office, which is located on the Upper West Side.
