Pinning Your Hopes on Fertility to Get Pregnant
Misconceptions about the Effectiveness of In-Vitro are Common
Nov 30, 2008
As women approach their forties, it can become more and more difficult for them to conceive a baby. In fact, the best window for some women to get pregnant may be much earlier than most people recognize. It is not uncommon for women to begin to have fertility issues even after the age of 30. Believe it or not, the most optimum age to conceive is actually between 25 and 29 years of age.
More Women Delaying Motherhood
Despite that, more and more women are delaying motherhood until they are older. In 1970, only about 11,000 women in the 35-39 age bracket gave birth to their first child. By 1997, nearly 90,000 women were delaying motherhood and waited until age 35-39 to have their first child.
Unrealistic Expectations about In-Vitro Success
If fertility is reduced after age 30, then what are reasons for why more and more women are putting off having children? One could be that they have unrealistic expectations that fertility treatment, specifically in-vitro fertilization, will help them conceive a child no matter how old they are.
A recent UK Study published in the October issue of Fertility and Sterility confirms that women commonly overestimate the success of in-vitro as well as the fact that advanced maternal age increases the risk of several pregnancy complications.
About 700 women participated in a survey with approximately half of them seeking fertility counseling and the other half of the group already pregnant. While a significant majority of the women in both groups were aware that fertility decreased between the ages of 30 and 40, fewer than half of the women in each group knew that a mother's age increased the risk of gestational diabetes and cesarean birth. 85% of the women who were seeking fertility assistance believed that fertility treatment could overcome the negative effect of age on fertility.
Actual Fertility Success Rates by Age
One of the most interesting things about the above findings is that the actual fertility success rate is quite different from what the study participants were led to believe. Experts report that fertility treatment is successful about 25% of the time for women in their 20's and 30's. By the time women reach their 40's, fertility treatment is only about 10% successful.
Researchers speculate that some of the misconceptions about fertility success rates has come from the media where older women are routinely portrayed as being successful in conceiving. Fertility clinics do not choose to advertise the remaining 75-90% of women who are not able to conceive even with the help of fertility treatment.
Weighing Your Decisions
With the cost of one cycle of in-vitro fertilization close to $10,000, women should carefully consider their personal decisions to delay childbearing. Not only will delaying motherhood tend to increase pregnancy and birth complications, but the success of fertility treatment is reduced and ultimately it may cost significantly more money to get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
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