Before delving deep into this topic and establishing it’s relationship with the fertility of a woman. It’s important to know, What is Biological Clock?
What is Biological Clock?
Well, the term Biological Clock evolved way back in 1970’s. It is the progression from puberty to menopause during which a woman can bear a child.
“Biological Clock” evolved when lot was happening for the liberation of women during 70’s.
- The feminist movement happened
- Oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices were developed.
- The birth rate dropped significantly
- Abortion was legalised
- Women started delaying marriage to pursue higher education and career.
The above developments gave the new found freedom to women.But then this metaphor was used to remind women to not to forget their traditional role of yearning children.
Today, the couples are not settling before late twenties or early thirties. Parenthood is embraced only after 30’s when in reality the quality and quantity of eggs are in descending order.
With the advancement of technology and Assisted Reproductive therapy women of today’s age has got the freedom to pursue their dreams and still enjoy the bliss of motherhood . Further, egg donation, embryo donation and surrogacy have given the new-age women wings to follow their dreams without worrying about their”biological clock”.
But then a body has it’s own limitations too though the technology gives you the option those procedures are time taking and expensive for sure not affordable for many couples. Many who are passionate about their dreams are freezing their eggs in the early twenties and embracing motherhood later on in their lives.Before taking decision of delaying motherhood a woman should know about her biological clock .
Four things that every woman should know about her fertility and Biological clock.
Biological Clock of a women starts ticking at the age of 30, it’s real and justified.
As women strike a new balance between education, career and relationship , many have elected to delay child bearing.
Unfortunately, the biological clock starts ticking when a woman enters in her thirties. Though she is born with approximately 2 million eggs every month she loses some hundreds. Ideally, the peak fertile period for any woman is late teens to late twenties. By the time she enters her 30’s most of her eggs are gone. Another important factor is the hormonal level that is regulated by stress, anxiety, fast lifestyle and pollution that are essential to carry so many functions.
Egg quality decreases with time.
Reasons for poor quality of eggs :
- Stress
- Pollution
- Infection
- Endometriosis
- Obesity
- Heavy metal contamination of food/water
In our modern-day life, these factors are almost unavoidable. Moreover, when egg remains in the ovaries for a lingering period of time it leads to genetic problems, in case if it fuses with sperm, the embryo is not of grade A. Grade A embryo leads to a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, older women have reduced fertility and exposure to high risk for the genetically abnormal fetus. Over 50% of embryos will be aneuploidy (genetically abnormal) by age 40. At 42, more than 80% of her embryos will be abnormal.
Fertility treatments can boost the chance of getting pregnant and having healthy baby.
Fertility treatments like IUI (Intra- uterine insemination ) and in Vitro Fertilization are boon to women having low count of eggs. Women suffering PCOS and non- functional fallopian tubes can opt for this treatment especially IVF where the embryo is directly transferred into the uterus.Both the treatments significantly increases the chances of conception leading to normal pregnancy.
With the advent of Comprehensive Chromosome Screening( CCS) of embryos the chances of a healthy pregnancy have increased. CCS is a process in which a physician can analyze the genetic make-up of the embryo before it is transferred thus reducing the chances of miscarriages as only healthy and grade A or B embryos are transferred. This dramatically improves the chances of delivering a healthy baby.
Fertility preservation has given the power to women to hit the snooze alarm of their biological clock.
Women are aspiring for big in life regarding their dreams and technology has given them to achieve so by successfully delaying childbirth by preserving their eggs.Oocyte(egg) freezing and Embryo freezing are two processes by which women can still experience the bliss of motherhood even in the late ’30s and ’40s. The only difference between the two is that the later one that is Embryo freezing requires sperm to fertilize the mature eggs.Both the treatment starts with hormonal medication.
Recently, the embryo freezing is most trending as the chances of live birth is much higher than egg freezing. The above two preservation methods can only be done In Vitro fertilisation treatment.
What is the right age to preserve the eggs?
The statics say that when a women is below 30 she needs 10 eggs for a live birth whereas a women at 38 would need 25 and women in their early 40’s would require probably 100 eggs for a live birth.Therefore, right age for preserving eggs will be ideally below 30 or at max before hitting 40 to increase the chances of live birth.
Technology has given wings to women to fly high and pursue their dreams. They just have to choose wisely as per their requisite. But age-factor still holds the key as in spite of egg and embryo freezing live birth rate is still at high – risk if not tried before early 30’s. Know your body before you take any decision.
I agree with the current scientific terms, But I beleive somewhere far in my brain, that human’s are evolving into something, the evolution is happening and it’s always been happening, and this is part of evolution. The human being might get extinct and all of these happening, the reason behind it, is human. It’s real issue all women face out there, even men has their own issues. Me and my wife been struggling for a baby for 7 yrs and i dont know how long it will still take.
Hi Simon, Don’t loose hope . We too took 10 long years for attaining parenthood. Right diagnosis is very essential, most of the clinic just follow the procedure step 1, 2,3 without eliminating the problems that persist like endometriosis, scar tissue , fibroids etc. I am just a ping away if you want any help will be more than happy to helpout.
Hey thanks for that. We are in proper procedure now. Due to Corona the steps has been on hold. Or else I should have been started by IVF by now. Hope al good wil happen ☺️✨? have a beautiful day ✨?
My upcoming posts are on IVF . Do check them out. Few things are not mentioned by clinics but those little things are very important as your wife would be introduced to heavy dose of hormones. Just a friendly caution before you start IVF be financially, mentally and physically prepared, keep a permanent domestic help at times depending on relatives is not feasible as this is a lengthy procedure. Physical and mental stress hampers egg’s quality and quantity both, I am saying this from my personal experience. You both can start folic acid (VitB9) it helps in strenthening the gametes (sperm and egg) both.All The best Buddy !! May love and light come to both of you.
Hi, Thank you so much, we have been through this before, but we did not proceeded the IVF, which we regret now after 5 years, Will surely check-in your post. Thanks for the wishes ✨?
Thank you for sharing Debi this is a very helpful post. My husband and I were discussing about having a second child. My son is 3.5 years old now.bi feel he is very young but I’m not young anymore and it’s not easy to conceive either!
Don’t Worry Archana, but if you are serious about it then don’t delay . As infertility can haunt even after successful delivery of your first child. As by the time you conceive it will be nothing less than a year or more . By that time your son would be close to 5 yrs and would be easier to handle.
Nice post, but it’s quite worrying too. I heard it before but today came to know in details. Eagerly waiting for the next chapter. Best of luck.
A very informative article Debi. I had my first kid at 28 for fear of the biological clock!
This I need my daughter to read…I am sharing it with her.She is 30 and doesnt understand that the clock is ticking and doesnt wait for anyone.Thank u for this informative post.
Thanks Harjeet, I am glad that you liked it and hope your daughter takes the right decision after reading this.
Great post debi..and yes now with advancement of technology egg preservation is an excellent option that could help lots of women in getting pregnant.
This is a very informative post, especially who are planning to conceive. I am looking forward to reading more about this A to Z challenge , I am sure I am going to get more information in the next posts of yours
Yes, When I was undergoing treatment i did not get anything under one book or post as its vast. My sole intent is to bring my 26 posts as an ebook so that many are benefitted by receiving the information they are looking for.
So crucial information that too with pure rationality shared by you Debidutta a biological clock in woman, these days for woman it becomes very important to understand what your body says and how it works, conceiving at the right age has always been a plus point of healthy pregnancy but those who couldn’t able to conceive for any reasons, also has many ways to experience the motherhood, only what matters is taking the right decision at the right age but all by keeping in mind what their body says.
Thanks Archana, I am glad you could relate with it.
Its really a beautiful write up. Certain things I already knew reading through different sources but you have beautifully put it together. Loved it 🙂
Thanks Tina, it means a lot.You and Durga Prasad are doing great by showcasing various facets of Odisha. Blogchatter is agood platform to showcase that.
Technology has really made so much things easy and yes pregnancy too one of the factor which depends on the same
That is a very informative post and a must read for women in 30s who have not conceived as yet but want to have a child. Technology has made things easier but it too has its limitations.
Thanks Swarnali , hope its useful .