FECUNDABILITY AND BIOLOGY

Read this article earlier. It wow-ed me because, you know, I realized that there are so many things I didn't know.



Ok, it's general knowledge that around age 35 (at the time of childbirth, NOT conception) is considered advanced-age pregnancy; and that fertility declines with advancing age - especially during the mid-30s. Risks involved are stillbirth, miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, health complications such as gestational diabetes, (the usual) chromosomal problems such as Down Syndrom (Trisomy 21), Trisomy 18, and Trisomy 13 etc. Factors that pit against advanced-age pregnancy - as per general knowledge - are the usual health issues such as: kidney problems, heart problems, weight (both too heavy or too thin), diabetes, high BP etc.

But!!! I've always thought that the declined fertility is due to eggs of lower quality being produced - you know, like how it is in sperms. Low motility. Cannot swim. Swim crookedly etc.



Anyway, apparently, other than quality, the OTHER MAIN CAUSE of the decline in fertility is due to LESS FREQUENT OVULATION (bet you didn't know that!). Meaning that on some months, there is no egg at all. What I didn't know too, is that there is also a higher risk of C-section, and miscarriage (even if the fetus has normal chromosomes). In fact, medical help should be seeked if there is still no news after (only!) 6 months of... Emmm... "purposeful" bedroom activity. Bet you didn't know this too!



Statistics:

Women who are 26 to 30 years of age have similar conception rates to women 25 years of age or younger. Conception rates for women under age 31 years, age 31 to 35 years, and over age 35 years are 74, 62, and 54 percent, respectively.

The chances of involuntary childlessness in women at age 20 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44 is 6, 9, 15, 30, and 64 percent respectively. Women aged 35-45 have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage.

Usually, eggs of superior quality are present at higher volumes at a younger age than after 30.

Fecundability (i.e. the probability of achieving a pregnancy in one menstrual cycle) begins to decline significantly in the early 30s (about age 32), with a more rapid decline a few years later.





The statistics wow-ed!



FECUNDABILITY! Just learnt a new word! And placenta pervia. Google if you're nerd enough to!


Biology. Biology IS educational! *woot!*