fertility Blog

It’s a fact that American women are starting families later in life. Since the year 2000, 46 states and Washington, D.C. have experienced an increase in the number of women over age 35 having their first child.

As a result, many of these older women need to rely on assisted reproductive technologies, like in vitro fertilization (IVF). Female fertility begins to decline naturally around age 30. A woman in her early 40s has only about a five percent chance of conceiving naturally in any monthly cycle.

How old is too old for in vitro fertilization?

Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer to this question. Generally speaking, women over the age of 43 are not advised to undergo IVF with their own eggs. Instead, reproductive specialists recommend using donor eggs, as older eggs have a higher chance of being chromosomally abnormal. These abnormalities can lead to miscarriage, disease, or problems in growth or development. Women over the age of 50 are generally not considered candidates for IVF.

However, women of any age with access to viable eggs or embryos (her own or from a donor) and a receptive uterus (her own or with a gestational surrogate) is capable of achieving motherhood through IVF. If you are between the ages of 35 and 50 and are considering in vitro fertilization, it’s important to understand your risks of pregnancy and perinatal complications, such as:

• Obstetric hemorrhage
• Preeclampsia
• Pregnancy induced hypertension
• Gestational diabetes
• Higher rate of Cesarean delivery
• Preterm delivery
• Low birth weight

If you would like to explore your options for fertility treatments or are in need of skilled in vitro fertilization services in Columbus, Akron, Canton, Youngstown and other Ohio communities, please contact Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility at 866-537-2461. Our fellowship-trained, board-certified fertility specialists are dedicated to helping you achieve the family of your dreams in a safe, compassionate, and state-of-the-art environment.

While some women get pregnant faster than others, it’s not uncommon for it to take longer than expected. This is especially true if you or your partner are dealing with known or unknown fertility issues.

If you’re a healthy woman between age 25 and 35 you have about a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant each cycle with regular unprotected sex. For women over 35, the probability of conceiving goes down steadily. For example, 40-year-old women have about an eight percent chance of getting pregnant each month, while 42-year-old women have about a two-to-four percent chance.

What is the average time it takes to get pregnant?

So, how long does it take to get pregnant? It really depends on a lot of factors, but here are some average statistics: Approximately 25 percent of women under the age of 35 (with no known fertility problems) will conceive within three months of regular intercourse. Fifty percent will get pregnant within six months, and 85 percent within 12 months.

If you are a woman under age 35 and have been trying to conceive for at least 12 consecutive months (or have irregular cycles), we recommend seeking treatment as soon as possible (six consecutive months for women over age 35).

How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant?

Here are some things you can do to tip the odds in your favor:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight
  Carrying too much or too little weight can have an adverse effect on your hormones, which are responsible for ovulation.
• Eat Well and Exercise
  Regular exercise and a healthy diet will increase your chances of conceiving.
• Practice Clean Living
  Now is the perfect time to stop drinking and smoking. Not only will it be good for your overall health, but your fertility as well.
• Fertility Evaluation & Diagnosis
  There are many factors that can affect male and female fertility. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify your condition and set you on a new path to achieve the family you so desire.

The reproductive endocrinologists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility are highly skilled and specialized in treating both male and female factor infertility. Contact us for skilled fertility evaluation & diagnosis in Columbus, Akron, Canton & Youngstown, Ohio.

Approximately one in ten couples struggle with infertility. In fact, infertility can affect women of any age, and from any background. If you’ve been trying to conceive for more than 12 consecutive months (6 months for women over age 35) without success, your primary care physician may refer you to a specialized fertility center for diagnostic testing and potential medication or services.

Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility (RGI) offers every available fertility treatment with unsurpassed expertise—to give you the child of your dreams. Our treatment plans are individualized to your specific needs to ensure you’re getting the exact treatment or procedure you need.

Fertility services at RGI

When you choose RGI, you’re maximizing your chances of having a child with leading-edge fertility capabilities, such as:

• Evaluation & Diagnosis
  Our thorough fertility testing capabilities examines everything from ovulation cycles and uterine health to body weight and possible infections. We also provide on-site male fertility testing for maximum convenience and peace of mind. Once we have a diagnosis, we’ll help you determine the next best step in your fertility journey.
• Fertility Surgery
  For many women, surgery is one of the most effective methods of improving fertility. The skilled RGI fertility specialists and surgical gynecologists can perform any leading edge, minimally invasive procedure you need.
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  We use IVF to help with the trickiest aspects of pregnancy (fertilization and implantation) and to optimize your chance of success. We also combine IVF treatment with advanced techniques, like pre-implantation genetic screening & diagnosis, to improve your chance of having a healthy baby.

Get started on your fertility journey with RGI

We have outstanding IVF success rates for both fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles. However, we’re proud to offer the first IVF 100% Success Guaranteed Plan in Northeast and Central Ohio. It’s our goal to help you have a baby—or we’ll refund every penny.

Contact Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility for leading-edge fertility services in Columbus, Akron, Canton and Youngstown, Ohio, and maximize your chance of having a child.

A woman’s age is the most important factor affecting her fertility and chance of having a baby. As men and women age, their potential to have children naturally decreases, though the exact time this starts to happen varies.

All about fertility in your 20s

Whether you’re ready to start thinking about a family or not, there are some important things you should know about fertility while you’re in your 20s. This information could affect how you view your fertility and the idea of getting pregnant in the future. Here’s what you need to know:

• Fertility
  Fertility declines at a different rate for every single woman and can happen as early as her late 20s.
• Lifestyle Choices
  The lifestyle choices you make now could heavily affect your fertility in your thirties. If you love white rice, white sugar, smoking and/or adult beverages, it could make it more difficult to conceive down the road.

All about fertility in your 30s

A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. As she ages, so do her eggs—and their number and quality reduce over time. Here’s what you need to know about fertility on your 30s:

• Fertility
  Between the ages of 33 and 42 (with an average age of 38), the loss of immature eggs accelerates. This marks the beginning of decline in a woman’s fertility, which eventually leads to menopause.
• Preservation
  If you are a woman in your 30s and aren’t quite ready to start a family, it might be time to consider egg freezing (cryopreservation). Egg freezing allows women to use their young, healthy eggs to help them achieve pregnancy later in life, when they are ready. Frozen eggs are viable and may be used to achieve pregnancy for more than 10 years.

All about fertility in your 40s

Your chances of conceiving naturally in any given month lower significantly once you reach 40 years of age. In fact, the average 40-year-old woman has only a 8 percent chance of getting pregnant each month..

• Fertility
  Women in their 40s are less likely to become pregnant naturally due to poor egg quality. As women age, more and more of their eggs have either too many or too few chromosomes, which can significantly lower the chance of pregnancy and increase the chance for miscarriage or birth defects.
• Assisted Reproductive Technologies
  Whether you froze your eggs in your 20s or 30s or have decided to use an egg donor, assisted reproductive technologies (like in vitro fertilization) can help you achieve pregnancy in your 40s.

If you are a woman in your 20s or 30s and would like to learn more about preserving your fertility with egg freezing (Cryopreservation) in Columbus, Akron, Canton & Youngstown, Ohio, contact the skilled physicians at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility.

Approximately one in every 50 pregnancies in the United States is ectopic. Ectopic pregnancies, also known as tubal pregnancies, occur when a fertilized egg grows in the wrong place (e.g., ovary, fallopian tube, cervix or abdominal cavity). Most ectopic pregnancies—nearly 98 percent—occur in the fallopian tube.

Unfortunately, ectopic pregnancies cannot move or be moved to the uterus, so they always require treatment. They cannot result in a baby and can be life threatening for the woman. There are two main treatment options for ectopic pregnancies which depend on your unique signs and symptoms: medication or surgery.

Signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy

Light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain are the usually the first symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. The following symptoms may indicate a serious medical emergency:

• Sharp waves of pain in the abdomen, pelvis, shoulder or neck
• Severe pain on one side of the abdomen
• Light to heavy vaginal bleeding
• Dizziness or fainting
• Rectal pressure

Ectopic pregnancy and fertility

If you’ve suffered an ectopic pregnancy you have a slightly higher risk for another, however as many as 65% of women are healthily pregnant within 18 months of an ectopic pregnancy.

The chance of subsequent pregnancies after an ectopic pregnancy depends on the health of your ovaries and fallopian tubes. Some women who experience ectopic pregnancy require medical intervention to remove the fertilized egg and, in some cases, the ovary or fallopian tube.

Am I at risk for ectopic pregnancy?

You have an increased risk for ectopic pregnancy if you have a history of or currently use the following:

• Previous ectopic pregnancy
• Salpingitis (pelvic infection)
• Damaged fallopian tube
• Infertility
• IVF
• Tubal ligation
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Progesterone-only oral contraceptive

To learn more about ectopic pregnancies and fertility, contact the skilled specialists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility. We can help you achieve a healthy pregnancy, whether you’ve experienced a previous ectopic pregnancy or are struggling with unexplained infertility. Call 866-537-2461 so your dreams of growing your family can come true.

Infertile families who choose IVF and achieve a healthy pregnancy may have additional embryos once they’ve finished growing their family. Many of these couples choose to donate their unused embryos to another person or couple for implantation. This helps other infertile families grow and supports the life of the embryo.

Today, there are an estimated one million frozen embryos in the United States and approximately 6.1 million infertile American women.

Embryo donation success rates

The average pregnancy success rate using embryo donation is high. The embryo donation success rate for pregnancy is slightly higher than standard IVF implantation success rates. This is likely because the donated or adopted embryos have undergone preimplantation genetic testing. Preimplantation genetic testing is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within the embryo.

Five reasons to choose embryo donation

The skilled doctors at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility want to ensure you understand all aspects of embryo donation and how it can help you grow your family. Here are our top five reasons to choose embryo donation:

• Most agencies and fertility clinics have embryos readily available.
• It allows the intended mother to enjoy the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
• It can be less expensive than egg donation.
• The embryo is already created, reducing a step in the IVF process.
• Embryo donation maintains neutrality regarding the genetic connection to the child, which is important to some couples.

If you are a women aged 25-40 and have gone through unsuccessful IVF treatment, you are not alone. The skilled physicians at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility want to help you achieve your dream of growing a family with help from embryo donation—the success rates speak for themselves. Call us at 866-537-2461.

Approximately 15 percent of American women between the ages of 18 and 44 have a difficult time getting pregnant. If you and your partner have been trying to conceive for more than 12 months (6 months for women over 35), you may be struggling with infertility.

Genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors may affect fertility in men and women. However, it is possible to increase your chances of getting pregnant and have a successful pregnancy.

Seven ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant

Here are seven ways you can increase your chances of getting pregnant:

• Increase physical activity
  Regular moderate physical activity has shown to have a positive effect on fertility. However, be sure you’re consuming enough calories and hydrating as this can counteract your efforts, lead to irregular menstrual cycles and restrict fertility.
• Maintain a healthy weight
  Women who are overweight or underweight may experience fertility issues. Overweight women are more likely to experience a disruption in the development and quality of the fertilization process and embryo growth. Underweight women have a higher risk of ovarian dysfunction, infertility and preterm birth.
• Eat more antioxidants

Antioxidants like folate and zinc may improve fertility in both men and women. They work to deactivate free radicals in your body, which can damage sperm and egg cells.

• Avoid tobacco products
  Tobacco has shown to have negative effects on hormone levels and lead to earlier menopause. Giving up tobacco products may boost fertility in women.
• Lower stress
  Participating in stress reduction activities, like yoga, meditation, journaling and spending time with loved ones can support fertility processes, like ovulation, in women.
• Get the timing right
  The best way to get pregnant is to have intercourse at the right time in your cycle. Women ovulate about two weeks before their period, which means you are fertile about a week or so before then. To help you predict when you will ovulate you can use over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits and track your basal body temperature.

If you’d like to learn more ways to increase your chances of getting pregnant, call the experienced reproductive endocrinologists at Reproductive Gynecology & Infertility at 866-537-2461. We offer both male and female fertility testing services to ensure you receive the best possible care for your unique situation.