Age and Fertility: Why Donor Eggs May Be the Right Choice for You
by MyEggBankin Learn About Egg DonationNovember 15th, 2024
Conception is a complex process that involves various functions and systems in the body working together seamlessly at the right moment to create life. Many women and couples choose to postpone having children until their 30s or 40s. However, with age comes fertility changes – and challenges. If you're considering growing your family at an older age, using donor eggs may be a better option for you.
Age and Fertility: The Science
Women are born with a set amount of eggs in their ovaries. The number of eggs and their quality decreases with age. Women are most fertile in their late teens to late twenties. After this period, the likelihood of becoming pregnant starts to decline. This decline becomes more pronounced by the mid-thirties. By age 45, conceiving naturally is highly unlikely.
Additionally, the risk of pregnancy complications also increases with age. The risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus increases from age 35. Complications such as gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, and stillbirth are also more common among older women than younger women.
Benefits of Using Donor Eggs
Potential donors must meet strict physical and mental health standards to ensure the best chances of conception for aspiring parents. There are several advantages to using donor eggs, including:
- Success rates: In vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates with donor eggs are generally higher than those using the woman's own eggs, particularly for individuals over the age of 35 or those with diminished ovarian reserves.
- Genetic testing: Using donor eggs allows aspiring parents to select the sex of the child and to utilize genetic testing to screen for potential chromosomal abnormalities.
- Biological connection: Some couples may hesitate to use donor eggs due to concerns about not having a genetic link to the baby. However, the male partner's sperm can still be used, providing parents with a meaningful biological connection to their child.
Learn More About Using Donor Eggs
As you age, conceiving can become more challenging. For older women and couples seeking to grow their families, using donor eggs offers numerous benefits. If you’re interested in learning more about the egg donation process, consult the expert team at MyEggBank. We offer the largest and most diverse donor egg bank network in North America.