title: Age-related infertility.
abstract: Oocyte number and quality decrease with advancing age. Thus, fecundity decreases as age increases, with a more rapid decline after the mid-30s. Patients more than 35 years old should receive prompt evaluation for causes of infertility after no more than 6 months of attempted conception. Patients with abnormal tests of ovarian reserve have a poorer prognosis and may need more expedited and aggressive treatment. Although oocyte donation is the best method to overcome age-related infertility, other treatment options may help women proceed quicker toward pregnancy. Patients at an advanced age should be counseled and evaluated before undergoing infertility treatments.
authors: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of North Carolina, 4001 Old Clinic Building, CB 7570, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: natalie_crawford@med.unc.edu.
authors: Natalie M
authors: NM
authors: Crawford
authors: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of North Carolina, 4001 Old Clinic Building, CB 7570, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors: Anne Z
authors: AZ
authors: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008423:Maternal Age; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000379:methods*; D065851:Ovarian Reserve / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Advanced maternal age; Aging; Donor oocytes; Infertility; Ovarian reserve