Advanced reproductive age
When is a woman considered to be of advanced childbearing age?
It is becoming increasingly common to find women in our centers who decide to have a baby later in their lives. The word “late” is relative, and we could say that nowadays, a 35-year-old woman, after finishing her degree, doing a postgraduate course, and that has been married for two years, will probably think that she is starting “on time” when she first thinks about having a baby.
The same could be said of a patient who, after her divorce at the age of 38, decides to remarry and, after three years of that relationship, seeks to have another child. The same would apply to a woman who unfortunately loses her husband or who, after the death of a child, at age 40 or older, thinks about becoming a mother again.
We could give countless examples, but social, professional, or family circumstances do not correspond to biological reality.
A female baby at birth has approximately 1.2 million eggs, and yet she is constantly depleting this number of oocytes because the ovarian economy is genetically programmed to do so. By the age of the onset of menstruation, the eggs have decreased to 300,000-400,000.
In each ovulation cycle, 400-500 eggs are used to select only one that will be released and be exposed to fertilization. In conclusion, the ovarian economy is an economy of selection and, like everything else concerning our body, is one of excellence. This ovulatory “excellence” climaxes between the ages of 25 and 35.
We have many figures that can expand on the above concept; among them: the chance of a 20-year-old woman achieving a gestation is approximately 25% per month, and at age 35, it is 15% per month; after age 40, it is 3-5% per month. The chance of a pregnant woman at age 20 having a miscarriage is 15% and increases to over 70% after age 43. There are many other similar findings: high incidence of miscarriages due to chromosomal alterations, early embryonic deaths due to implantation defects, and obstetric complications in patients older than 35.
What are the recommendations for older women when they wish to have a baby?
If a couple initiates their wish to conceive a baby and the woman is over 35, they should consider the following aspects and follow these recommendations.
- Consult a gynecologist if, after six months of unprotected sexual activity, you have not achieved gestation.
- Should there be a history of pelvic diseases, Endometriosis, menstrual disorders, or pelvic surgeries, a consultation for early evaluation is recommended, even if the indicated six months have not elapsed.
- If there were difficulties in conceiving in previous relationships.
- Likewise, if the man has any ejaculation disorder or a history of testicular injuries or surgeries, this evaluation should also be done early.
What kind of tests should a woman of advanced age undergo when seeking a pregnancy?
It is important to remember that the basic infertility studies do not vary depending on age, and so the patient, regardless of her age, should undergo the following tests:
- Basic hormonal study: A blood sample is used to evaluate the functioning of different endocrine systems involved in ovulation. This includes certain hormones that allow knowledge of the ovarian reserve (the number of eggs the woman has at the time of the evaluation).
- Anatomical evaluation of the reproductive organs: transvaginal pelvic ultrasound with antral follicle count (small intraovarian structures in which eggs are stored).
- Evaluation of the functionality of the Fallopian tubes.
- Hysterosonography: ultrasonography with a liquid medium that draws the internal contour of the uterine cavity and fluid turbulence in the Fallopian tubes.
- Evaluation of the partner’s sperm fertilizing capacity utilizing a sperm analysis.
In some cases, a laparoscopy may be required: an invasive study of the pelvic cavity that requires general anesthesia but allows direct visualization of the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. When recommended, this procedure will enable the correction of alterations such as adhesions, Endometriosis, cysts, etc.
