Desire to conceive - at what age am I too old to have a child

Introduction — Awareness and Social Pressure

In Cameroon, what strikes me is how aware people are of the importance of age when it comes to the desire to have children — many understand it intuitively or speak about it openly. At the same time, the social pressure to become a mother is often very strong, sometimes even stronger than in other countries. This combination of knowledge and cultural expectations makes the topic of wanting children both emotionally significant and complex to navigate in real life.

Age — Why Is It So Important?

Age is one of the most powerful factors influencing fertility, especially in women. Biologically, a woman is born with a finite number of oocytes (her future eggs). These oocytes do not regenerate and age along with her.

🔹 With age:

• The number of oocytes decreases.

• The quality of oocytes decreases (higher risk of chromosomal problems).

• The chances of conceiving gradually decline.

General data from scientific reviews:

• Before age 30, fertility is relatively high.

• Between 30 and 35, fertility gradually declines.

• After 35, the decline becomes more pronounced.

• From 40 onwards, the monthly probability of natural pregnancy drops significantly.

This phenomenon is well documented in reproductive endocrinology and fertility journals (e.g., Human Reproduction Update), which show a constant decline in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality with age.

The increased risk of miscarriage with maternal age is also well established: older oocytes are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, which can prevent normal embryonic development.

And Men? Male Fertility and Age

Unlike women, men produce sperm throughout their lives. However, sperm quality changes with age:

• Gradual decline in sperm motility.

• Increase in DNA fragmentation in sperm.

Andrology studies show that advanced paternal age is associated with a slight decrease in conception chances and a moderate increase — much smaller than maternal age effects — in some risks for the embryo.

Scientific summary: Men do not automatically become infertile with age, but their fertility gradually declines.

Hope: What IVF Can (and Cannot) Do

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical assisted reproduction technique that can help achieve pregnancy when natural conception does not occur.

📌 What IVF can do:

• Help overcome certain conception obstacles.

• Bypass some mechanical problems (e.g., blocked fallopian tubes).

📌 What IVF cannot do:

• Reverse the effect of age on oocyte quality.

• Turn low-quality oocytes into young, high-quality oocytes.

Scientific literature shows that the older a woman is, the lower the success rates of IVF, even after multiple attempts.

Average success rates from aggregated clinical data:

• <35 years: relatively good chances per cycle.

• 35–37 years: moderate chances.

• 38–40 years: lower chances.

• 40 years: significantly reduced chances.

This reflects biological reality: IVF does not undo the decline in oocyte quality due to age.

Controversial Topic: Egg Donation

Egg donation involves using eggs from a younger donor for IVF.

✔️ For many older women, this significantly increases pregnancy chances, as donor eggs are generally higher quality.

⚠️ This is a personal choice, with emotional, ethical, and cultural aspects to consider. Medical literature recognizes that it is often the most effective strategy for women with age-related low ovarian reserve, but not all women want or can pursue it.

Social Freezing — Egg Cryopreservation

Social freezing refers to collecting and freezing eggs while a woman is still young for future use.

Key points:

• Eggs frozen at a younger age retain their original quality.

• This can improve the chances of pregnancy later in life.

Studies in reproductive biology show that freezing eggs before the end of the thirties generally gives the best results, as oocyte quality is still relatively good.

⚠️ Important: Freezing eggs is not a guarantee of pregnancy — it is simply insurance for egg quality, not a guarantee of future success.

Conclusion — Practical Guidance

Here are practical reference points based on scientific data:

📌 If you are <35 years:

• Fertility is still relatively favorable.

• If trying to conceive for 1 year without success, consult a specialist.

📌 If you are >35 years:

• Fertility gradually declines.

• If not pregnant after 6 months of regular attempts, a consultation is advised.

• Consider early evaluation: ovarian reserve, partner’s sperm analysis, etc.

📌 If you are >40 years:

• Natural pregnancy probability is lower.

• A medical evaluation is recommended promptly to explore options (IVF, possible interventions, etc.).

  
  

Conclusion

Age is a strong factor — but it is not a sentence. What matters is making informed decisions, having open communication with a specialist, and following an approach that respects your emotional and biological rhythm.

Kind regards,

Dr. Sandra Yene Amougui

General Scientific Sources (non-commercial):

• Fertility and reproductive endocrinology journals (e.g., Human Reproduction Update, Fertility and Sterility).

• Reviews on the effect of age on fertility in the medical literature.

• Andrology studies on sperm quality and age.

• Research on egg freezing and IVF outcomes by age.