Many delay having children without understanding fertility decline

Many people may be delaying having children without fully understanding how much fertility is impacted by age, a new study suggests. Researchers in Australia questioned college students about their plans to have children. They found that, on average, the students planned to start their families at the age of 29 and finish having children by the age of 34. However, they were then shown a simple online brochure that included facts about age-related fertility decline and IVF (in vitro fertilisation) success rates. When asked the same questions again, the students lowered the age they said intended to start having children, to 28, and also lowered the age they wanted to finish having children by, to 33. According to the researchers, this study shows that when it comes to fertility issues, a little knowledge can have a big impact on family planning. "This study suggests that many people may be delaying having children without fully understanding fertility decline, and with unrealistically optimistic views of the 'safety net' provided by reproductive technology," they commented. They added that increasing awareness of fertility issues ‘is essential for ensuring young women and men can make informed reproductive decisions and could ultimately have a big impact on society'. Details of these findings are published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Article: 19th November 2013 www.irishhealth.com Read more about sperm donation and co-parenting at www.prideangel.com

When does your biological fertility clock start ticking?

More and more of us are putting off having kids to focus on our careers, so much so that we now delay having a baby for longer than women in any other country. And with celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Mariah Carey giving birth for the first time in their forties, it’s easy to imagine that we have all the time in the world. But when does the female biological clock actually start to tick? We’ve spoken to top fertility experts to give you the lowdown. British women are becoming mums for the first time later and later, and the birth of the royal baby earlier this month highlighted this trend. While Kate Middleton, at 31, was in no way old, she was still over a decade older than Princess Diana was when she gave birth to Prince William. Things have changed a lot in a generation and the number of first-time UK mothers in their 40s has risen by 15% in the last five years. But at what age do we actually need to start worrying about having kids from a biological perspective? While lots of women are able to conceive later on, could some of us be at risk of missing our chance to become a mother if we wait for too long? 35 could be key ‘There is no “magic number” at which female fertility declines but we know that eggs deteriorate with age,’ says Infertility Network UK’s deputy chief executive Susan Seenan. ‘The speed of that deterioration will vary but rises more steeply after the age of about 35. The more “fertility aware” you are the better, so you can make an informed decision and be aware that it might take you longer to conceive,’ she adds. The NHS agrees that 35 is a key age when it comes to female fertility. Women are most fertile in their early 20s and their fertility declines with age. From the age of 35, this fall becomes steeper. ‘Women in the 19-26 age group have double the chance of conceiving each menstrual cycle compared with 35-39-year olds,’ explains Fertility UK fertility nurse specialist Jane Knight. Women over 35 are also less likely to become pregnant from fertility treatments like IVF, and are more likely to suffer from miscarriages. So does this mean that we all need to get pregnant by 35 or risk never being able to have kids? Not necessarily. You may want to start worrying when you reach 37, though. ‘Egg quality diminishes significantly from about 37,’ explains Jane. Ask your mum Your personal danger age could also be down to genetics. Fertility expert Zita West suggests looking at your mum. ‘One important question to ask is at what age your mother had the menopause as this may be the same for you,’ she says. ‘The decline occurs when the quality of the eggs is diminished with age, and this is usually in the late thirties to early forties.’ But just because you’re still having periods, it doesn’t mean that you’ll get pregnant easily. ‘Nature plays a cruel trick in that women tend to go on having periods long after they have ceased to ovulate,’ says Jane. ‘The ovulation mechanism becomes faulty and the egg quality is very poor long before a woman reaches her menopause, and a woman may no longer be fertile for up to ten years before she has her last period. The average age for menopause is about 51, but many women will have a much earlier menopause.’ So does that mean that, for the average woman, 41 could be the pivotal age? Read more...

Canadians uninformed about their fertility may become childless

The majority of Canadian men and women are so uninformed about their own fertility they could wind up childless, according to a new poll from the University of British Columbia. More than 90 per cent of respondents in the National Fertility Awareness survey incorrectly believed or were uncertain whether in vitro fertilization could help a woman have a baby with her own eggs right until she hits menopause. In reality, less than two per cent of IVF procedures are successful for women in their mid-late 40s using their own eggs. This and other common misconceptions are what led UBC counseling psychology professor Judith Daniluk to launch a new website debunking myths and helping adults make educated choices. “The concerning part is more people are ending up childless by default, because when they delay and they get to the point where they start to pursue treatment, treatment can’t compensate for age-related declines,” Daniluk said. “We don’t want you to get blindsided.” Only 51 per cent of women and 66 per cent of men surveyed understood that a woman’s eggs are as old as she is, and just 41 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women realized that a man’s age is also an important factor in a couple’s chances of becoming pregnant. “There’s starting to become some evidence that men who are fathering children into their late 40s and 50s and 60s, that those kids have higher incidents of learning disabilities, autism, potential schizophrenia, some forms of cancer,” Daniluk said. Another major misconception was that overall health and fitness levels are better indicators of fertility than age. Wrong again, Daniluk said. The mistaken beliefs probably have a lot to do with Hollywood, she added, where healthy-looking stars are frequently seen sporting baby bumps well into their 40s. Daniluk said what the public doesn’t realize is that many of them are likely using the eggs of a much younger woman. Whatever the cause, this misinformation appears to be having real-world impacts on families’ choices; according to Statistics Canada, the average age of women giving birth to their first child has risen from 25-29 in 1991 all the way to 30-34 today. Read more... Article: 1st April 2013 www.bc.ctvnews.ca Read more about fertility and finding a sperm or egg donor at www.prideangel.com

AMH test to check your real fertility age

MORE women are delaying motherhood until they are older, so it is helpful to know what your real fertility age is. The average age of those giving birth was 29½ last year – up a year on a decade ago. Almost a quarter of the 2,500 women taking part in Red magazine's national fertility report had problems conceiving. British mums have their first-born later than any other nationality and the number giving birth after 40 has trebled.
Sun Woman asked five women between 25 and 32 to take tests to give a UK snapshot of fertility. The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test gives an estimate of the woman's remaining egg supply, or "ovarian reserve". The shocking results revealed four out of the five women had a LOW egg reserve result.

Here fertility expert Zita West, who runs her own clinic in London, explains why there is no reason to panic and explains how they can improve fertility.

1. Sarah House, 27
Single Sarah, a health and beauty consultant from Broadstairs, Kent, was given an egg reserve count of 18.96, which is considered LOW. Zita says: "For her age, this AMH level is on the low side. "Sarah's BMI indicates that she is slightly overweight. But she exercises, which is a good thing. "Being overweight may interfere with your menstrual cycle, create hormonal imbalance and prevent ovulation. "She admitted she is a smoker and this can damage her eggs so I have advised her to give up." Sarah says: "The results were not what I expected and I was a bit worried. I thought I would be fine because I'm a young person and as far as I know, I have no health problems. "I'm going to focus on my weight and smoking but I'm not going to rush into having a family just because of the test results. "I am not ready to have babies yet. "I want to give up smoking and I'm considering hypnotherapy. "I've been going to the gym a lot and I've joined the weight-loss group Slimming World. "I might try the test again in three years and see what the results are like then. "If I had the finance,I might consider freezing my eggs at that point."

2. Lucy Jones, 32
Single Lucy's egg reserve count was 9.56, which is LOW. She is an accountant and lives in Chalk Farm, North London. Zita says: "Lucy seems to think she may have polycystic ovary syndrome but the AMH result does not reflect this. She should see her GP to discuss her worries, though. "She goes to the gym and it is important that she keeps this up and stays fit and healthy. "I would advise her to think about having a baby sooner rather than later." Lucy says: "I was surprised by how low my results were and it took me a while to process the implications. "I eat very healthily, don't smoke and have regular periods. I will go to the GP like Zita suggests. I've been told to have a baby sooner rather than later. "But I split with my boyfriend of nine years last year and I don't want to rush into a new relationship just to have a baby. "All I can do is take my test results into consideration when I next meet someone. "If I get to the age of 35 or 36 and I'm still single I will have to reassess and make a decision about what I want to do. "There are always options such as egg freezing and adoption. "I will keep myself healthy and in good physical condition as this helps fertility. "I chatted with my mum and at my age she got pregnant so I think this is positive. "I will not worry about the test results.

3. Abby Campbell, 26
Single Abby was given an egg reserve count of 14.70, which is LOW. She is a shop manager from Lincoln. Zita says: "Her egg count is a little low for her age. "Now she is aware that her AMH is slightly lower than average so she may want to think about having children a little earlier. "She doesn't smoke and she exercises regularly. "She should carry on with this healthy lifestyle because it helps to boost her fertility. Abby also needs to discuss with her mother at what age she went through the menopause because women usually follow their mums in this pattern and it would be helpful for Abby to know what to expect. "She also has a low vitamin D count – hers comes in at 37 when it should be more than 50. "She needs to look to try and boost this figure with supplements if possible, because this will help to increase her fertility." Abby says: "I was surprised by the test results I received but I think it is always better to know these things for the future. "I'm not going to rush out and have a baby, though. "I will take Zita's advice and get vitamin D supplements. "I will also be certain to quiz my mother about when she started the menopause and whether she had any underlying fertility problems. "But my test results are not going to change how I am living or what I am doing now."

4. Hannah Shrimpton, 25
Hannah was given an AMH reading of 31.74, which is SATISFACTORY. She owns a cake-making business and lives with her boyfriend of three years in Peckham, South London. Zita says: "I'm happy with Hannah's results and potential future fertility. She is not overweight, seems to lead a very healthy lifestyle and is young. "Hannah said she has been diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition which affects approximately five to ten per cent of women. Tissue from the womb lining grows in other parts of the reproductive tract and some women may have fertility problems." Hannah says: "Suffering from endometriosis, my fertility has always been at the back of my mind and last year I was warned it might be very bad. "I am not thinking of starting a family yet as my career is only just starting, but I will keep healthy. "I had an operation to laser certain cells a few months ago and my symptoms are a lot better. Although I'm not thinking of kids yet, I'm pleased my test was satisfactory."

5. Kellie Blackmore, 31
Bank worker Kellie was given an egg reserve of 17.48, which is LOW. She lives with her boyfriend, truck driver Chris Pope, in Tamworth, Staffs. Zita says: "At Kellie's age you would expect her fertility to be 17, and hers is 17.48, but this is still considered low. "Kellie has a low vitamin D count – it is 37 and she needs to increase it to 50 or above. "Her alcohol intake for the week is 20 units. When trying for a baby, cutting down on alcohol is always good. "Kellie is slightly overweight and needs to lose weight to improve her fertility level. She and her partner spend a lot of time in steam rooms. This needs to be cut down because heat damages a man's sperm." Kellie says: "I didn't know the dangers to fertility in steam rooms. We'll stop that, along with drinking in the week. I'll take vitamin supplements too." "My low vitamin D levels did come as a surprise and I am now taking a supplement. "Because I hope to have children in the future I am stopping drinking in the week. "Me and my boyfriend are also making healthy meals and I will keep going to the gym, to get to a healthier weight."

Article: 2nd November 2011 www.thesun.co.uk

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