Age as a Cause of Infertility, Page 2

Female Diagnosis

In diagnosing for age-related female infertility, one is looking for the quality of a woman's ovarian reserve, a measurement of how viable her egg supply is for conception purposes. The tests may include:

  • serum FSH levels, sampled through blood draws on day 3 of a woman's cycle
  • clomiphene challenge test, in which the patient is administered clomiphene citrate and then has FSH measured

Female Treatment

Generally and statistically, women over 40 benefit the most (in regards to achieving successful pregnancy) from donor egg IVF. Prior to the age of 40, the breakdown of success rates for various treatments are:

  • Intrauterine insemination (IUI): Pregnancy rates of 5% and up, depending on many variables.
  • In-vitro fertilization (IVF): Take-home baby rates vary from 3% and up, depending on many variables.
  • Assisted hatching: Co-procedure performed during IVF process, used to compensate for harder zona pellucida often seen in older women.

Men's Aging

Normally fertile and even most relatively infertile men have the good fortune of being able to reproduce sperm, unlike women. In general, it is believed that a man's sperm supply is completely refreshed approximately every three months. This means that problems associated with the age of the actual gametes (sperm) is not an issue for men, as it is with women.

Recently, a research study indicated for the first time that a man's age may impact his fecundity, or ability to impregnate within a month. This is the first such documentation of that possibility, and it must be noted that the research itself has been disputed by some, as youth-related higher levels of sexual activity may not have been accounted for in the data.

However, the following may be age-related fertility issues for men:

  • declining testosterone production
  • declining sperm motility and overall production
  • increased risk of prostate problems in general
  • increased incidence of erectile dysfunction or ejaculation problems
  • years of environmental damage, such as toxin exposure, alcohol or tobacco consumption, to sperm production mechanism or sperm cells themself
  • less frequent sexual activity in general

Male Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of age-related male infertility is, in essence, no different than for other male infertility factors.

Diagnosis would certainly begin with:

  • semen analysis

And may continue with:

  • physical exams
  • Doppler exam
  • scrotal ultrasound

Treatment modality would depend on the actual cause determined through proper diagnosis.

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