Hormonal
Female age is a primary determinant of reproductive performance, with a significant decline in fertility starting in the mid-to-late 20s and a steep drop after age 35, affecting both natural conception and ART success rates.
If you are a woman planning to conceive, understand that fertility begins to decline in your late 20s and drops significantly after 35. This is a biological fact, not a lifestyle choice. If you are not ready to conceive by your early 30s, consider discussing egg freezing or other preservation options with a specialist, as waiting until 40 drastically reduces the chance of live birth via ART.
By the time women reach 35 years of age, their fertility is declining... At an even earlier age, the number and quality of oocytes decrease but manifest clinically at around 35 years of age... The trend in Australia and New Zealand is typical of global experience... peak fecundity occurs at the age of 22 years, begins to decline in the mid- to late- 20s and has plummeted by the age of 40 years.
Why this rating
Multiple large observational studies, meta-analyses, and ART registry data consistently show the effect.
Source
The impact of lifestyle factors on reproductive performance in the general population and those undergoing infertility treatment: a review
Gillian Homan et al. · Human Reproduction Update · 2007
DOI 10.1093/humupd/dml056
More from this paper
- Smoking (active and passive) significantly reduces fertility in both men and women, delaying conception and reducing ART success rates, with mechanisms including DNA damage, altered hormone levels, and zona pellucida thickening.Strong
- Maintaining a healthy body weight (BMI 20-25) is crucial for fertility, as both obesity (BMI >30) and underweight (BMI <20) are associated with delayed conception, ovulatory dysfunction, and reduced ART success rates.Strong
- Psychological stress is associated with reduced fertility and lower ART success rates, although the evidence is considered equivocal due to measurement difficulties and lack of consensus on defining stress.Moderate
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