Most women realize that the older you get, the more difficult it is to get pregnant. However, that statistic hasn’t stopped the growing number of couples in their late 30s and early 40s from becoming first-time parents.

From marrying later in life to establishing a career, many couples are waiting longer to conceive, and this can pose a challenge when it comes time to start a family.

“Of the six million people in the U.S. affected by infertility, one of the leading causes is advanced age,” says Dr. Jose Pliego, a reproductive endocrinologist at Scott & White Healthcare. “The good news is that this is one of the most easily treated forms – if you don’t wait until you are 40.

“The message is that women need to start thinking about their fertility sooner and take a more proactive approach with their reproductive health.”

The Female Factor

To many women, the word, “infertile,” is about as appealing as a scarlet letter, but infertility can be avoided and treated.

“Infertility is typically defined as a couple who have not conceived after 12 months of unsuccessful, unprotected, well-timed intercourse,” Pliego says.

However, a patient over age 35 or with obvious reasons (for example, irregular cycles) should not wait 12 months, but should get evaluated after six months of trying to conceive.

The major reason for women being unable to conceive is the result of a declining “ovarian reserve.” Monthly ovulation further reduces the ovarian reserve, and by the time a woman is between 50 and 60, she will have naturally depleted all of her eggs (also known as menopause).

Aging can also impact the quality of a woman’s eggs. Present from the time of birth, eggs are some of the oldest living cells in the female body. This is also caused by chromosomal damage, and it increases a woman’s chances of birth defects and miscarriage. As a result, they may not be viable at a later stage in a woman’s life.

The Male Factor

Thirty percent of infertility problems come from the male.

“Men are capable of producing sperm continually throughout their life,” Pliego says. “However, age can affect a man’s testicular function and cause a reduction in hormonal levels.”

Lower levels of testosterone can lead to diminished interest in sex and lower levels of sperm production. The quality of a man’s sperm may also be impaired over time.

All couples having difficulty getting pregnant should have a semen analysis performed to rule out male factor infertility.

Protecting Your Fertility

First and foremost, women need to think ahead. If you are in your 20s and not planning to have children until later in life, you need to know that pregnancy rates begin to decline in your 30s and drop drastically after age 40.

If you are over 35 and have been unable to conceive after six months, it is recommended that you visit an infertility specialist and undergo a series of tests to rule out any existing medical conditions and find the proper treatment.

Dr. Jose F. Pliego sees patients at Scott & White Healthcare – Round Rock and Temple. He is also a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Pliego is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology: Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility. For more information, call 512-509-0200.