Contents
The biological clock: what is it?
The possibility of conceiving does not last a lifetime. The biological clock of women makes that, after 40 years, a pregnancy is much less easy to achieve, if not impossible.
Definition of the biological clock
The biological fertility clock is a concept that describes the decline in fertility with age. According to studies, the decline in fertility begins between 25 and 35 years and increases markedly after 40 years. But reduced fertility does not mean zero chance of pregnancy! Simply, the probability of pregnancy is less important at 30 years than at 20. Impaired fertility is a reality in men too, but to a lesser extent. Semen is of lesser quality with age.
Biological clock and internal clock
The biological clock is a physiological reality. In our body, everything is timed, including fertility. The internal biological clock is at the origin of the circadian cycles which return regularly almost every 24 hours. The internal clock is regulated from the hypothalamus, a gland in our brain. Our biological clock determines the onset of menopause and therefore the decline in fertility.
The effects of the body clock can cause a woman approaching 35 to become in a rush to conceive.
At what age does fertility decrease in women?
The probability of having a child is 25% per cycle at 25, 12% per cycle at 35 and only 6% per cycle at 40 and 0% at 45. This is why it is better to have children between 25 and 35 years old if you can. Pregnancy can be more difficult afterwards. From the age of 43, medically assisted procreation (PMA) is no longer reimbursed by social security because the failure rate is very high.
Should we hurry when the biological clock is ticking?
If you really want a child and that all the conditions are met (you have found the future dad, your health is suitable, materially you can welcome a child ..), do not delay too much! Because the risk is not to have children is real to wait too long. However, you have to be sure that it is the desire to have a child that makes you want to conceive and not just the constraint of age and the fear of not being able to be a mother anymore.
As a reminder, the freezing of oocytes for convenience is prohibited in France. And even if it were allowed, we must not forget that the course of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a long and difficult course, not always crowned with success.