Age and egg quality - Causes of Female Infertility

It refers to the relationship between the age of the women and the ability to conceive. It is a known fact that the ability to conceive declines as a woman ages and it is particularly noticeable after the age of 35.

The quantity and quality of your eggs (known as the ovarian reserve) depletes over time which affects the chance of fertilisation and increases the risk of miscarriage.

Also eggs are of a superior quality in the younger woman than an older woman so one can see the sense in the argument that it is better to start a family when young rather than wait until middle age.

The quality of these eggs is affected by a variety of external influences such as smoking, endometriosis, and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Poor quality eggs can also lead to miscarriage and infertility which may account for the fact that IVF is less successful in older women.

There is no accurate method available for determining egg quality but there are a couple of tests such as the day 3 FSH or Clomid which can estimate the number of eggs left in the ovaries.

Treatment options include infertility medicines such as Clomiphene and Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin and IVF.

Female Infertility Guide Index:

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• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS)
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Hostile cervical mucus
• Tubal blockage
• Anovulation
• Obesity
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• Amenorrhea
• Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APA)
• Hypothyroidism
• Age and egg quality
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Smoking and alcohol consumption
• Contraception
• Prescription medicines

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