Why does the fertility potential decline with age in women?

It is important to know that women are most fertile in their early 20s. Natural fertility declines after the age of 30 years and definitely after the age of 35 years. It also takes longer time for older women to conceive yet they have a higher chance of miscarriage.

The main problem is egg quality. Cytogenetic studies showed that 1 in 4 eggs might be abnormal at the age of 35 years. This ratio increases to 2 in 4 by age of 40-42 years and to more than 80% by the age of 44 years.

Other factors that could interfere with the fertility potential is the more likelihood of developing gynaecological problems with age. This could include such conditions like fibroids and endometriosis. We should not forget that older women usually have older partners and natural fertility also declines with age in men. It was shown in one study that women 35-39 years of age have  18% chance not to concieve naturally after one year and 9% chance after 2 years if the partners' age is less than 40 years. This risk is increase to 28% and 16% respectively if the partners' age is above 40 years.

Unfortunately with the demands of life these days many women have to fulfil their career potential before trying to start a family. This could be unavoidable. However for women above the age of 30 years who have such problems as irregular, painful or heavy periods or deep pelvic pain during or after intercourse a visit to the gynaecology specialist would help them to know if they had any fertility compromising problems. This is also true for women with family history of endometriosis and those who had pelvic surgery for an ovarian cyst or appendix etc.