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Pregnancy: Fertility Facts
Conception rates for normal healthy couples are, at best, 20-25% per menstrual cycle. Once a woman reaches the age of 35, her fertility begins to decline. By age 40, it is estimated that her conception rate is in the range of 8-10% per month and at age 43, the pregnancy rate is thought to be as low as 1-3% per month.
In addition to a reduction in pregnancy rates associated with increasing female age, there is also a significant increase in the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal (genetic) abnormalities.
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Risk of Miscarriage with Increased Age
|
Maternal Age
(years) |
Miscarriage
(%) |
| 15-19 |
9.9 |
| 20-24 |
9.5 |
| 25-29 |
10.0 |
| 30-34 |
11.7 |
| 35-39 |
17.7 |
| 40-44 |
33.8 |
| 45 and over |
53.2 |
Duration of infertility
The duration of infertility is also important both for choosing the appropriate time to initiate investigation as well as selecting the most appropriate treatment. In general, the longer the infertility, the smaller the chance of conception occurring spontaneously (without treatment), and the sooner treatment will be initiated.
How common is it to have a fertility problem?
It has been estimated that one out of six couples (15%) will have some difficulty conceiving. Some couples will have conceived a pregnancy together in the past yet will have difficulty in achieving another pregnancy. In other cases the female may have been pregnant with another individual or the male may have fathered a child with a previous partner.
Your weight and infertility
It has been shown that weight is closely related to the success of any fertility treatment. Women who are excessively overweight or underweight have reduced conception rates and higher miscarriage risks than women of similar ages who are within their ideal weight range. The risk of stillbirth has also been shown to be increased when women are overweight. Weight stabilization prior to initiating any fertility therapy increases a woman’s chances of conception and live birth.
Unexplained infertility
This diagnosis is reserved for those couples that have completed their fertility investigation and no cause has been demonstrated (approximately 15% of all infertile couples). In such cases once the duration of the infertility has exceeded 24-30 months, the chance of conception occurring on its own is approximately 3-5% per month and perhaps even less as the woman becomes older.
Smoking
Smoking has deleterious effects on a woman's eggs as well as on sperm. Smoking cessation is essential for maximizing a couple’s success with fertility treatment. This includes cessation of marijuana use, as marijuana has additional detrimental effects, especially on sperm function.
Stress
It is virtually impossible to quantify stress and thus the effect of stress on fertility is also hard to correlate. What is stressful for one person may not be for another. Pregnancies still occur during high stress situations. e.g. wartime. However, it is always desirable to reduce one’s stress level to a minimum.
Lifestyle
The adage “everything in moderation” should be followed. This includes caffeine and alcohol consumption. Pregnancy is a natural process and thus, there is no good evidence that these two activities must be totally eliminated from one’s lifestyle. A balanced diet combined with regular exercise is healthy and helps prepare a woman for pregnancy, labor and delivery. We recommend a multivitamin supplement that contains folic acid (0.4-1.0 mg) for all women who are trying to become pregnant. This B-vitamin reduces the risks of some serious defects of the central nervous system in the fetus. It should be started a few weeks before treatment begins and taken until the 10th week of pregnancy.
Other Articles in Pregnancy
 Pregnancy: Fertility Facts
Pregnancy Planning
Pregnancy: Home Pregnancy Tests
Pregnancy: Early Pregnancy Symptoms
Pregnancy No-Nos
Sex & Pregnancy...Do they mix?
Pregnancy: Cord Blood Banking
Pregnancy: The First trimester
Pregnancy: The Second Trimester
Pregnancy: The Third Trimester
20 Common Pregnancy Questions & Answers
Unique and Unusual Baby Names
Baby Room Themes: Fun Ideas Your Baby Will Love
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