Does age affect conception?

Many couples who are already “on their feet” and have everything they need start to think about having a baby. Sometimes they do not conceive, or the pregnancy itself is difficult. This raises the question of how age affects the birth of a child.

Woman’s age, conception and pregnancy.

Doctors have debated for many years over the optimum period for a woman to become pregnant. It is believed that by the age of 20, the girl’s menstrual cycle improves, ovulation becomes regular, and the entire body is ready for hormonal change. It is during this period that it is recommended to plan for the baby. Up to twenty a girl is too young to have a serious pregnancy, so abnormal pregnancy is quite common among very young mothers-to-be.

Conception should not be a problem for women up to the age of 35. The ideal period in terms of physical health and social development is between the ages of 25 and 28. After 35, the childbearing years come to an end, when sexual activity diminishes. In addition, children from older mothers are more likely to have babies with genetic abnormalities (particularly Down’s syndrome). This is due to the accumulation of harmful substances in the body, including in the ovaries, where there are not yet fully developed oocytes that have not entered the period of ovulation.

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Male age and fertilisation

A man’s age can also affect his ability to have children. The paternal years are not as important as the maternal years on the health of the unborn child. On the other hand, the synthesis of hormones responsible for fertility decreases in a man’s body over time.

Men go through “menopause” around the age of 45-60. But at that time, reproductive capacity does not completely disappear. The quantity of male testosterone hormone does not decline in leaps and bounds, but gradually, by about 1-2% per year.

At the age of 80 the production of testosterone is about 30-60% less than normal. This means a reduced chance of becoming a father. However, there is no scientific evidence that it is impossible to have a healthy child from an elderly father.

Partner age difference

No reliable studies have been conducted on conceiving a healthy baby in couples with an age difference. There is a perception that partners with a large age difference have genius babies, but there is no evidence to support this. So in this case the choice is up to you.

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