What is Fertility?
Fertility is the ability of an individual or couple to reproduce a baby through regular sexual activity. It’s about 90% of healthy fertile women able to conceive a baby within 1year with intercourse regularly. Fertility requires the production of healthy sperm from the male and eggs from the female to the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus of the female. If any issue with any of these steps may cause infertility. Fertility depends on many factors of diet and nutrition, sexual behaviour, culture, instinct, endocrinology, timing, economics, habitats of life, and emotions. Women’s fertility peaks in their early twenties, and often deteriorate after 30.
Facts about Fertility
- Fertility declines with age in both sexes.
- Complete infertility usually occurring around the age of 50.
- This fertile window varies from woman to woman.
- Use of fertility drugs or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) can increase the chances of becoming pregnant.
- Age affects female fertility in these ratios:
- 75% will have a conception ending in a live birth within one year at age 30 year.
- 91% will have a conception ending in a live birth within four years at age 30 years.
- 66% will have a conception ending in a live birth within one year at age 35 year.
- 84% will have a conception ending in a live birth within four years at age 35 years.
- 44% will have a conception ending in a live birth within one year at age 40 year.
- 64% will have a conception ending in a live birth within four years at age 40 years.
- Age affects Male fertility also. The sperm count declines with increased age of a man. Counts of mature sperms in Male with Age are:
- In males 20–40 years old, 90% of the seminiferous tubules contain mature sperm.
- In males 40–70 years old, 50% of the seminiferous tubules contain mature sperm.
- In males 80 years old and older, 10% of the seminiferous tubules contain mature sperm.
- Male fertility also depends on many other factors lifestyle, environment and psychological factors.
- It is estimated that 10%-30% of women ages 35 to 40 may experience infertility.
- Smoking can add 10 years to your fertility age.
- Being overweight and underweight affect one’s fertility.
- 25 percent of overweight may have an impact on ovulation.
- Men and women contribute equally to fertility problems.
- Men have higher infertility rates than women.
- Drinking Caffeine affects fertility.
- Taking lots of medications may cause fertility issues.
- Birth control can affect your chances of conception.
- Acupuncture may boost fertility.
- A blood test can determine a woman’s egg reserve.
- Lifestyle choices may affect a woman’s fertility.
