Childbirth after 30: when you need to hurry with pregnancy

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Women are increasingly delaying pregnancy planning for later. Career, the search for a reliable partner come first. It would seem that all the goals have been achieved, but new problems arise. So long delayed pregnancy does not occur.
What is the reason? And when you need to become anxious about it and consult a specialist? About this and much more you will learn from Anna Alexandrovna Ryzhova, a well-known reproductologist with more than 15 years experience, who works at the Reproductive health clinic ECO.

Up to 35 years, a woman is given 12 months of regular sexual life without protection to expect pregnancy. At the age over 36, we cannot afford to wait so long. And after 6 months of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant on your own, you need to seek help from a reproductologist. What is the reason for the absence of pregnancy among this group of patients? Unfortunately, no matter how wonderful woman may look, the laws of nature are inflexible. The principle of so-called biological altruism applies: nature gives women the opportunity not only to give birth to a child, but also to have time to raise this child.

The final decrease in fertility (menopause) is preceded by a late reproductive period. During this period, there is a progressive decrease in reproductive function. Many women believe that if they have menstruation, then they are able to become pregnant. Unfortunately, this is not true. Hormonal activity of the ovaries ceases at the age of menopause (at about 50 years old). But the ability to conceive disappears much earlier: on average, 7 years before climax. The gradual decrease of reproductive function begins closer to 30 years!

Last studies have shown that the pace of disappearance of follicles (and, accordingly, eggs) doubles when the eggs reserves decrease to 2500, which normally corresponds to the age of 37 years. This age is defined as critical, after which the ovarian reserve decreases sharply. Thus, the first reason for the absence of pregnancy among this group of patients is the number of eggs.

The second reason for the decrease in fertility among patients of older age is the quality of the cells remaining in the ovaries. According to research, the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs begins to increase sharply after the age of 38 years. Consequently, from this age the number of normal embryos with a normal chromosome set, capable of giving a normally developing pregnancy falls. At the age of 43, the percentage of normal embryos does not exceed 15%.

It should be noted that not only the quality and quantity of eggs reduces the chances of patients to conceive. With age, the number of concomitant diseases, such as adenomyosis, uterine fibroid and extragenital pathology, that complicate the onset of pregnancy increases. But you do not need to despair. Modern reproductive technologies come to the aid of this difficult group of patients. The most effective pregnancy method for them is the IVF method. With this method, we have a chance to get more embryos in one menstrual cycle, we have the opportunity to see the genetics of the embryos before transferring them to the uterine cavity and thereby we significantly increase the chances of pregnancy. And even in the absence of own cells, it is possible to get the desired pregnancy with donor cells. In conclusion, I want to say: if you have a desire to become a mother, plan a pregnancy up to 30 years. Make this point one of the top priorities among your other plans. But, nevertheless, if something did not let you do it, do not remain inactive - contact reproductologists.