Age and infertility: the clinical point of view

Minerva Ginecol. 2012 Dec;64(6):477-83.

Abstract

With the demands of the modern western world of today, women delay the conception of their first child and this adversely impacts on their fertility. Vast attempts have been made to diagnose and counter ageing women infertility. In this literature review article, we bring forward theories which may account for the age-related decline of fertility and explained about the assessment and treatment modalities currently available. After concluding that ovarian stimulation with the use of gonadotrophins and clomiphene citrate is not useful in women of 40 year and over, it leaves us with in-vitro fertilization as the most suitable method of increasing the rate of successful pregnancies and live birth rates. It is important to campaign the effects age has on fertility since, even highly educated women, are not aware of the full impacts age has on fertility.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age of Onset
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Genitalia, Female / growth & development
  • Genitalia, Female / physiology
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / methods
  • Infertility, Female / epidemiology
  • Infertility, Female / physiopathology*
  • Infertility, Female / therapy
  • Insemination, Artificial / methods
  • Male
  • Maternal Age
  • Menopause
  • Middle Aged
  • Oocyte Retrieval / methods
  • Ovulation / physiology
  • Ovulation Induction / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Retrospective Studies