Age & fertility

Egg quality is also affected by age as the oocytes prior to ovulation are in a stage of meiosis where the chromosomes are separated - at ovulation they segregate but separate again until fertilisation occurs. As years pass the spindles holding the chromosomes together start to break down hence there is an increase in chromosomal abnormalities with age. The risk of Downs Syndrome (an extra chromosome 21) is 1:192 for 35 year olds and 1:21 for 45 year olds.

TESTS OF OVARIAN RESERVE

Ovarian reserve can be tested by performing an Antimullerian Hormone during any part of your cycle - low levels of this hormone is a sign of declining ovarian reserve - this test can even be done when you are on the oral contraceptive pill.  Another test is to measure the FSH levels - elevated levels indicate poor ovarian reserve. The number of antral follicles is also a good way to assess ovarian reserve and is done before day 7 of your cycle just after menstruation - less the 4 follicles in your ovaries indicates declining ovarian reserve.

AGE AND MALE INFERTILITY

The quality and quantity of sperm does decline with advancing age which is partly due to the decrease in number of leydig cells which are important in testosterone production and hence sperm production. There is an increase in chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects and count motility and decline and abnormal sperm increases with age. The male menopause is “andropause” which starts to occur at 35 and it has been shown that men this age are 50% less likely to achieve a pregnancy than men under 25.