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Infertility
Infertility is real but there is hope. Dr. C will conduct a personal evaluation to help determine the best course of action for your family planning.
Infertility
About 12-15% of couples are infertile, which means they can’t get pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected sex. At least, that’s the definition if you’re younger than 35. If you’re older than 35, you’re considered infertile if you can’t get pregnant after six months of unprotected intercourse.
Mirela Cernaianu, MD
Integrative and Holistic Women’s Health & Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Center located in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, CA
Why is age so important for getting pregnant?
While there are many possible causes of infertility, such as endometriosis, hormone imbalances, and diminished ovarian reserve, to name a few, age is the biggest risk factor. Fertility peaks between the ages of 20-30 for women. The ability to get pregnant starts to decline after 30. In fact, women are half as fertile in their 30s as they were in their 20s. Then fertility significantly drops after the age of 35. By the time you reach 40, your chance of conceiving gets lower with every passing month.
How does ovarian reserve predict your ability to get pregnant?
When women are born, their ovaries contain a specific number of immature egg follicles. Every month a follicle matures into an egg, which is released into the fallopian tube. But you lose a lot more than one egg each month. Follicles (eggs) die naturally over time. Additionally, multiple follicles may try to mature every month but fail and die. As a result, the one to two million eggs women have at birth, drops to 300,000-500,000 by the time they reach puberty. Ovarian reserve refers to the number of follicles in your ovaries. Diminished ovarian reserve affects your ability to get pregnant, because it means you have fewer eggs remaining than normal. The number of eggs in your ovarian reserves depends on age, genetics, health conditions that affect your ovaries, and exposure to environmental toxins like cigarette smoke. Several types of ovarian reserve tests are available that estimate the number of eggs and their quality. The results of these tests indicate whether you’ll be able to have children. The tests are also used to determine whether your eggs are viable enough for in vitro fertilization.
What is the role of polycystic ovary syndrome in infertility?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) refers to a group of symptoms caused by a hormonal imbalance. PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility because it stops the ovaries from releasing eggs. Women with PCOS have symptoms such as: Irregular or absent menstrual periods Obesity High male hormones causing excess hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen Multiple fluid-filled sacs, called cysts, in the ovaries Oily skin and acne
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Planning a family is stressful, especially when you’re dealing with the ups and downs of trying to conceive. Please contact us to learn more about your options.