IS OUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TICKING? FERTILITY IN OUR LATER YEARS

 IS OUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCK TICKING?  FERTILITY IN OUR LATER YEARS

There is a vast majority of women trying to conceive in there 40’s. A high percentage of women I see in my clinic are in the mid 40’s. While the statistics can be discouraging, it still doesn’t mean you can’t have a baby.  Did you know, we are born with around 1 to 2 million eggs and by the time we have our first period they are pared back to around 300,000.  At which point they take turns ripening then bursting out of their follicle to be released through ovulation as part of our menstrual cycle. The number of eggs we have left therefore decreases with each menstrual cycle. On average a women ovulates 487 times during her lifetime. To have baby in your 40’s is therefore not impossible. There is a myth that at the age of 35 years the alarm bells go off, “there are fewer oocytes and poorer fertility outcomes”.  However, if we look at the way we treat ourselves it’s a surprise the alarm bells of our ovaries don’t start ringing at age 25. For women that are leaving it a little longer, they need to be educated about their fertility and equipped with the knowledge so they can make the informed decision about having a baby later in life. For some it can be as easy as “let’s have a baby and fall pregnant”. And for others the process can be a little more challenging.   Whilst people can blame it on age, there is a lot more to it other than your chronically age. Age can be a factor, however I see a lot of older women falling pregnant.

It is true and I will be one of the statistics; having a baby later in my life, getting married later and establishing my career. Realistically, if I had the chance I would have had a baby earlier.  That unfortunately is not a choice I currently have. The reality is we are getting married later, forging our careers and pushing off having babies till later in life.  However, I am putting the necessary steps in place to look after my health and my fertility.

Primary care of our health is so important for those who are leaving having children till later in life. For so long now we’ve all heard “you are what you eat, exercise is so important, stress is the underlying cause of some many illnesses”. All of this advertising we constantly keep hearing and seeing rings true.  Advice I offer my patients is all about making lifestyle changes in a holistic fashion. My view is about treating the patient holistically. It’s not just a get pregnant approach. We focus on a healthy pregnancy and healthy person. In doing so, we are creating a fertile, mind, body and soul.

We need to educate women about Fertility. If you are leaving it till a little later in life. Here is some great advice:

• KNOW WHERE YOUR CURRENT FERTILITY IS!!!
• GO AND SEE YOUR GYNAECOLOGIST
• HAVE A PELVIC ULTRASOUND
• HAVE YOUR HORMONES TESTED
• GET YOUR PARTNER TO HAVE A SPERM ANALYSIS

This advice will help you understand where your current fertility is and help you plan for your future. You can take charge of your health and begin to put the steps in required to have a healthy baby.  Even better may avoid having to go down the path of IVF.  At Angea Fertility Clinic we can help you on your path to improving your health and most of all increasing your fertility.