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How age impacts fertility

why is it important?

Fertility generally starts to slowly decline when a woman is in her early 30s, and after the age of 35 the decline speeds up.

Female -
- Female fertility declines with age, especially after 35.
- Egg quality and quantity reduce, lowering chances of pregnancy.
- Older women also have a higher risk of miscarriage and IVF failure.
Male -
- Men ≥45 years had 5x longer time to conception than those ≤25 years.
- Male fertility declines with age although more gradually than in women.
- Men over 40 have 30% lower chances of conceiving within a year compared to men under 30.

How Age Impacts Fertility

Age plays a significant role in a couple’s ability to conceive. While both men and women experience changes in fertility as they grow older, the impact is more pronounced in women.

Why Does Age Matter?

Fertility is not constant throughout life. As we age, natural biological changes reduce the chances of conception. This is primarily due to the decline in egg quality and quantity in women and gradual sperm quality changes in men.

Female Fertility and Age

Decline after 30: Fertility begins to drop slowly in the early 30s and declines sharply after 35.
Egg quality matters: Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. Over time, both the number and quality of eggs decrease, making conception harder.
Higher risk factors: With advancing age, the chances of miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities, and IVF failure increase.

Male Fertility and Age

Gradual decline: Unlike women, men produce sperm throughout life, but age still affects fertility.
Longer time to conceive: Men over 45 take 5 times longer to achieve pregnancy compared to men under 25.
Lower success rates: Men above 40 have nearly 30% lower chances of conceiving within a year compared to men in their 20s.

The Bottom Line