Female fertility is defined as a woman’s ability to conceive and bear children. The concept of fertility is closely related to fecundity, but these terms refer to different things. Fecundity is the physiological potential for reproduction, which can depend on age, health, and willingness to conceive.
Fertility, on the other hand, refers to the actual ability to produce offspring. Unlike fecundity, fertility can be statistically measured through fertility rates.
Every woman’s fertility begins at a different age. The term menarche refers to a girl’s first menstruation, which is usually accepted as the moment when they become fertile. For most girls, menarche happens when they’re around 12 to 13 years old, but it can happen before or after that age.
The timing of a girl’s menarche can be influenced by genetics, environmental factors, and especially nutrition. Menarche is often delayed in gymnasts, distance runners, and ballet dancers.
Some theories propose that this is due to an insufficient percentage of body fat that may result in anovulation and amenorrhea (absence of periods). Menarche doesn’t always mean that a girl has become fertile. The adolescent menstrual cycle is usually irregular for the first 1 to 2 years after menarche, reflecting anovulatory cycles. On average, it takes about 2 years after menarche before regular ovulatory cycles are achieved.
Menopause is usually considered to be the moment when a woman’s fertility period ends. A woman is considered to be menopausal if she experiences 12 months of amenorrhea after the final menstrual period in the absence of any other pathological or physiological causes.
The average age at menopause in the United States is 51 years. Five percent of women have late menopause (after age 55) and another 5% of women have early menopause (occurring between ages 40 and 45). Several years before that, however, periods tend to become irregular and infrequent. During this time, hormonal changes can cause other symptoms such as mood swings, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. This is known as a woman’s premenopausal period.
But most women will experience a sharp decline in fertility before that. Female fertility is at its highest between the late teens and the late twenties, and it starts to decline during your thirties. That doesn’t mean that women over the age of 30 can’t get pregnant naturally; however, it does mean that your fertile window will narrow. That is why some women choose to freeze their eggs if they’re planning to delay their family planning.
There is no single test for fertility but there are several tests that an infertility specialist can order if they suspect you’re suffering from infertility. First, they will collect your medical history, perform a physical examination and an ultrasound to rule out any abnormalities in your reproductive system. Your doctor can also schedule a test for ovulation, blood tests for hormones (progesterone, prolactin, thyroid hormones) on different days of your menstrual cycle, tests of ovarian reserve to understand the reason of your infertility.
Some of the most common conditions that can affect female fertility include:
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There are several factors that can decrease or increase female fertility, such as:
In most cases, a previous abortion won’t affect your future fertility. Medical abortions, particularly, haven’t been found to affect a woman’s fertility.
Sometimes abortion may affect your fertility in case of an infection that develops in the uterus and spreads to ovaries and fallopian tubes if lest untreated. In very rare cases, women who have had several surgical abortions can develop Asherman’s syndrome, in which scar tissue forms inside the uterus. This tissue can be removed through surgery, which should improve fertility.
The length of your cycle is determined from the first day of one period to the first day of the next one. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but your cycle is considered to be normal if it lasts anywhere between 24 to 35 days.
During this cycle, the lining in your uterus thickens in preparation for pregnancy. Ovulation usually happens 12 to 14 days before your next period begins. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, you’ll get your menstruation. The bleeding should last anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
As long as your cycles are regular and fall within the normal ranges, the length of your cycle shouldn’t affect your fertility. However, if you experience irregular cycles, or they’re shorter or longer than the normal range, you could be dealing with some fertility issues. Prolonged bleeding during your menstruation can be another sign that you’re not ovulating normally. A menstrual cycle less than 24 days or longer than 35 days or a menses that lasts more than 7 days merit further evaluation.
You can do many simple things to help fertility. These are some of the steps you can take to improve your fertility:
No, it doesn’t. Male fertility can also affect a couple’s attempts to conceive. Thirty-five percent of infertility is due to purely male factors. Of couples undergoing infertility evaluation, 10% to 20% are affected by a combination of male and female factors. Common causes of male infertility include:
It is generally accepted that women under the age of 35 should consult an infertility specialist if pregnancy doesn't occur after a year of regular unprotected intercourse. Women who are over 35, or who suffer from any medical condition which can affect their fertility, should talk to a specialist after 6 months of unprotected regular intercourse.
If a doctor determines that you or your partner have a fertility issue, they will advise you on the best course of treatment. For some women or couples, that might mean assisted fertility treatments, such as IVF. If your doctor determines that your chances of conceiving are too slim or null, you might still be able to create a family through surrogacy or adoption.
Creating healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and preventing STDs can help maintain your fertility and improve your chances of conceiving when you’re ready. Even if a fertility problem arises, your doctor will be able to tell you how to improve your fertility, allowing you to form the family that you have planned for!
Understand what your symptoms might mean — and what's normal for you — by tracking your cycle.
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