The latest data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that although the birth rate in the United States continues to fall overall, there has been a 4 percent increase in conception among women over 40 years old. Having children later in life has become more common, but we must remember that as women get older, it becomes more …
When we think of age and fertility we usually think about a woman’s age. But a man’s age can matter too, according to a recent article in Self magazine. This article was prompted by the pregnancy created by John Stamos, 54, and his wife, Caitlin McHugh.
“In general, maternal and paternal age do impact fertility rates and after age 40, …
Egg freezing for elective fertility preservation has become more popular over the last several years and, in an ideal world, would give every woman the chance to delay their fertility until they find the right time in their lives to have a child. As a recent article in the Washington Post points out though, it doesn’t always work out that …
On November 25, 2017, Tina Gibson, a woman in Tennessee gave birth to her daughter, Emma, who had spent 24 years as a frozen embryo. This is the longest-frozen embryo to successfully come to birth. Emma weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz. when she was born and is a thriving newborn.
Emma had initially been conceived via in vitro fertilization and …
There has been some recent activity in state legislatures in providing coverage for procedures such as egg freezing for fertility preservation for women who are planning to undergo gonadotoxic medical treatments.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law in June, legislation (HB 7124) to require insurance coverage of fertility preservation for insured individuals diagnosed with cancer, or whenever this treatment …
According to the National Vital Statistics System, the general fertility rate in the U.S. is continuing to decline. It seems that women are waiting longer to have children, a trend that has been recognized since the 1970s. Over time, the cumulative effect of this may result in a “healthcare crisis” where more healthcare dollars will need to be put into …
It was not that long ago that this was a subject that was not even discussed because most cancer patients going into chemotherapy or radiation were focused on survival, not quality of life. Today, fortunately, cancer treatments have improved so much that people are concerned about quality of life; i.e. living with cancer rather than just living from cancer.
In …
Egg freezing for fertility preservation is relatively new and there is not a lot of information available about how women perceive this technology. This information will help doctors counsel their patients on the wisdom of pursuing this procedure in the context of their lives. It can also help others make the decision to consider fertility preservation at an age when …
A new study out of Montreal Hospital Research Center is providing a new explanation for why women’s fertility declines with age. The study compared the eggs of 6-12 week old mice to those of 60 week old mice. They found that the microtubules in older eggs behave abnormally. Microtubules help with chromosome segregation during cell division. In older eggs, the …
A new tool may help women, who are considering freezing their eggs, understand their chance of having a baby based on the number of eggs they freeze. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently published this prediction model in the journal, Human Reproduction. They used data from over 500 IVF cycles and genetic testing results from 14,500 embryos to …
