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Canadian women over 30 at risk as infertility rates predicted to double
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Infertility rates are predicted to double over the next 20 years, and age plays a significant role in this forecast. By the time a woman is 35, her conception rate will have declined by 50 percent; miscarriage and genetic abnormality rates also increases with age. It’s called “reproduction aging”, and Canadian couples need to pay attention. “The latest statistics from the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society show positive success rates for Canadians using assisted reproduction,” says Dr. Ken Cadesky of the LifeQuest Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Toronto. “However, couples shouldn’t use this as a reason to delay starting a family. Age is the single most important factor affecting fertility.”
“Realistically, couples should start planning families in their 20s,” says Beverly Hanck, the executive director of the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada. “Young women fail to realize that…their fertility starts declining from their mid-to late 20s. Currently one in every six to eight couples of reproductive age will have difficulty
conceiving, but many can be helped with appropriate treatment.”
The past decade has seen advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART). With fertility rates declining, awareness and education about the benefits of early treatment of infertility have become vital for both couples and physicians.
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