Over the years, the chances of pregnancy decrease. However, many women choose to wait beyond 35 to try to have a child. What is gained and what is lost over time?
“Nowadays, it is very common for women to decide to postpone their motherhood, especially for professional reasons. For this reason, in recent years there has been a notable shift in the age at which women decide to have their first child: more and more women are seen in their late thirties and decide to undertake this project for the first time ", says Sandra Miasnik, doctor gynecologist and specialist in reproductive medicine at Cegyr (Center for Gynecology and Reproduction Studies).
However, the specialist warns that this delay could present a problem, since these women "probably do not take into account that fertility begins to decline around the age of 35 and reaching 40, this decrease accelerates." This alteration of the reproductive potential is due to the decrease in the quantity and quality of the ovules as the years go by.
Asked about when to consult a specialist, Miasnik explains that one can begin to talk about infertility after unsuccessfully looking for a pregnant woman for 12 months. In this sense, the expert highlights: «The age of the woman is very important in terms of her reproductive potential, therefore it is suggested to consult a reproduction specialist after completing a year of search in children under 35 years of age and after 6 months in older than this age. In addition, couples with a known cause should approach the consultation as soon as possible, regardless of the time elapsed.
Methods
Since the birth of the first test-tube baby Louise Brown, 30 years ago, fertilization methods have not only multiplied in quantity, but their effectiveness grows day by day. Currently, there are two large groups under which various methods are grouped. These can be of high or low complexity.
Among those of low complexity, the most frequent is intrauterine insemination, which consists of the introduction of a cannula through the cervix in order to deposit the improved semen (with a procedure for selecting the best sperm called swim-up). inside the uterine cavity and close to the tubes. This is done at the time of ovulation, which is scheduled by the doctor, and is usually accompanied by ovarian stimulation to increase the number of available eggs.
Miasnik also applies that the highly complex method most used today is In Vitro Fertilization and the ICSI technique (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). It consists of stimulating the ovaries to produce a greater number of eggs, aspirating the ovarian follicles that contain these eggs (this procedure is performed in the operating room and under anesthesia) and then in the laboratory, the embryologist fertilizes each egg with sperm from the couple . Two or three days after follicular aspiration, the embryos obtained are transferred to the uterine cavity. In general and according to the particular case, between two and three embryos are transferred. Twelve days later, the pregnancy test will be performed to verify whether or not the embryo implantation occurred.
Likewise, the Cegyr doctor highlights the importance of another method, such as egg donation. «Its most frequent indications are the cases of women with poor ovarian quality or low or no response to stimulation of the ovaries in previous treatments. In this case, eggs donated by young women who are subjected to both physical and psychological studies are used. In Vitro Fertilization or ICSI is performed with sperm from the partner of the recipient woman and then the embryos obtained are transferred to the patient's uterus ”. According to Miasnik, this treatment represents an important alternative to adoption to live a bond with the child from the experience of pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
The role of the doctor
"Couples who face the problem of infertility and need treatment, find that something that is so natural for many as is the fact of conceiving a child in the intimacy of the couple, requires the intervention of a third party. This distresses them, therefore it is important that they feel comfortable and well accompanied during the treatment, "says the specialist consulted by Infobae.com.
Sandra Miasnik also emphasizes that it is essential to be able to create a good framework of support for both and that the sexual life of the couple must be preserved as such and not become a "reproductive life". "It is the duty of every doctor, beyond the specialty, to know how to accompany their patients not only from the organic aspect but also from the emotional one," he considers.
On the other hand, he relates that the most beautiful part of his job is when a pregnancy is achieved and that many times, the bond between patients and the professional persists after birth. “It is really comforting to have visitors and see photos of the new family. Undoubtedly, the memory of what was shared with the couple during the treatment, phrases, gestures, anxieties and seeing them become parents is a very strong emotion for us doctors as well, "he concludes.