Your body faces several changes with increasing age that affect your ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are other conditions that might influence your reproductive health. A fertility specialist can help you learn about such changes and how best to manage them to maximize your success in trying to conceive. Here are a few ways that age affects your reproductive health:
Fertility Decline
Fertility decreases with age as a result of natural biological changes. In women, the number and quality of eggs decrease considerably in the years leading to menopause. Men experience reduced sperm motility and quality as they grow older, though at a slower rate than women. It is these changes that reduce the probabilities of natural conception and most often require medical interventions for pregnancy.
Knowing the timeline of fertility changes is helpful for planning reproductive goals. Women may pursue fertility preservation options, while men can continue to focus on healthy lifestyle behaviors. Understanding the factors affecting fertility empowers them to make practical decisions about family building.
Hormonal Changes
Age changes may also disturb different hormonal functions in males and females. During perimenopause and menopause, the female body undergoes decreases in estrogen and progesterone levels. This causes irregular menstrual cycles and eventual cessation. In men, testosterone may decline while they keep aging, impacting sperm production.
The hormonal change affects metabolic rates, making individuals susceptible to osteoporosis. Visit a fertility expert to minimize the negative impacts of hormone changes on your body. Use the information from hormone testing for early prevention measures.
Chronic Conditions
Chronic diseases, such as hypertension, tend to appear over time and may adversely affect the structures of the reproductive systems. In cases where conditions result in poor blood circulation, hormonal imbalance, or disruptions to sexual function, conception may be complicated. Some people may find it challenging to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
Medical conditions are best managed through regular check-ups, appropriate treatment, and lifestyle changes that minimize the impact of such conditions. Early intervention may promote reproductive health by identifying and treating potential complications early.
Pregnancy Risks
Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, tend to increase with maternal age. Genetic risks for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, also rise with advancing parental age. When such risks are recognized, they enable informed decisions about family planning and consultations with healthcare providers.
Prenatal screenings and follow-up appointments can reduce such risks, contributing to the safety of the mother and child. You may also want to discuss using an alternative method other than biologically carrying the pregnancy, such as adoption or surrogacy. Healthy practices such as exercise and diet may also contribute to reduced pregnancy risks.
Sexual Functionality
Physical and physiological changes related to aging may impact an individual’s sexual life. Vaginal tissues are less elastic and lubricated in females, while males have difficulty attaining or keeping an erection. These problems might occur due to reduced levels of hormones or other diseases.
Managing these challenges involves finding possible causes and implementing appropriate interventions. Discussions with healthcare providers will result in the identification and treatment of factors that permit the continuation of functional sexual health well into old age. Your healthcare provider can also suggest alternative ways to stay intimate.
Seek a Reproductive Health Assessment
Your effort toward maintaining reproductive health should not stop as you age. Regular checkups, mammograms, and prostate examinations can detect the early signs of reproductive disorders, such as cancers. Being open and forthright with your practitioner regarding your sexual history is helpful so they can tailor their care to suit your needs. Schedule an appointment with a fertility clinic today.