Many
women opt to delay childbearing until later in life
for many reasons, including the desire to establish
their careers, realize other life goals, and establish
economic security. Also, the average age of couples
entering marriage has increased. In past generations,
it was not uncommon for couples to marry in their teens
or early twenties which is also the time of greatest
biological fertility.
There
is a direct association between advancing female age
and infertility. There are numerous reasons for this
decline in fertility including diminished egg quality.
The decline in fertility associated with age can often
occur very rapidly which is why a thorough, timely,
infertility workup must be performed in all women in
their thirties who have not conceived after six months
of unprotected intercourse.
Most,
men retain the ability to produce viable sperm until
late in life although there can be a decline in the
volume and "quality" of the ejaculate. However,
the semen analysis is a mandatory infertility test and
must be performed early in the evaluation of the couple.
Latest statistics indicate that male factor infertility
is a component in approximately 47% of couples.
The
articles linked below are extensive discussions of the
impact of age on infertility authored by leading specialists
throughout the world.
