Age and Fertility

There's no way around it. Age affects your ability to conceive — for both men and women.

You will need Adobe Flash Player to view this content.

  • IVF helped Sheelah, in her 40s, achieve the dream of a second child.

The biological clock for women

Age is not an absolute barrier to conception. But as women get older, conception becomes more difficult. Fertility naturally starts to decline in the 20's. After age 35 fertility decreases rapidly. Why? Because women are born with a finite number of eggs. With time, the supply diminishes. The remaining eggs also age along with the rest of the body, as do hormone levels. In some cases, this can cause irregular ovulation.1

Chart showing % conceiving in 12 months, charted by maternal ageThe good news? This is all normal. If you're older, especially over age 40, conceiving may not be easy. But that doesn't mean that there's something wrong with you — or that you shouldn't try or that it is impossible to conceive. If you have any questions, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

The biological clock for men

Yes, it's true: Age also impacts male fertility. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decline and, in turn, their sex drive may wane. The quality of a man's semen also drops with age. Despite this fact, men continue to produce sperm for their entire lives.2

  • 1. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Age and fertility: a guide for patients. Birmingham, Alabama: American Society for Reproductive Medicine; 2003.
  • 2. IBID p-3, ¶2, line 3

Control What You Can

Get tips on healthy living.

Personal Stories

Watch videos

Hear from others who have gone through what you and your partner may be experiencing.
Watch videos

FIND A FERTILITY SPECIALIST

Enter your Zip code to find a fertility treatment specialist or fertility clinic in your area:

Important Considerations:
Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the oligo-anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® RFF Pen is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program. Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) should only be prescribed by physicians specializing in fertility or reproductive health. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing mild to severe adverse reactions, including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications, and multiple births. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to FSH preparations, primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction and pregnancy. Nursing women should not use Gonal-f®. Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, enlarged abdomen, and injection site disorders. For complete product details, see full prescribing information.

Important Considerations:
Women: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program.
Men: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of spermatogenesis in men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure. Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) should only be prescribed by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems and their management. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women and men who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to recombinant FSH preparations or one of their excipients, high levels of FSH indicating primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction, sex hormone dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs, and an organic intracranial lesion such as a pituitary tumor; and in women who exhibit abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin, ovarian cyst or enlargement of undetermined origin and pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Gonal-f®. The most common side effects in patients using Gonal-f® include headache, ovarian cysts, nausea and upper respiratory infections in women and in men, acne, breast pain and growth, and fatigue. Injection site reactions were also reported. Reports of multiple births have been associated with Gonal-f® treatment. For complete product details, see the full prescribing information.

For complete product details, please read the Prescribing Information offered below.


© EMD Serono, Inc. CIM Last Update 2008-09-16
This site contains medical information that is intended for residents of the United States only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a medical professional. Always consult a physician if you have health concerns. Use and access of this site is subject to the terms and conditions as set out in our Legal Statement and Privacy Policy.

This site contains information that is intended for US residents only. Canadian residents should consult the EMD Serono Canada Inc. Web site at www.emdserono.ca for information on products and services approved in Canada.

EMD Serono

Close

Please wait... loading

View the Full Glossary