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Female Age and Miscarriage and Fertility
Numerous studies have documented the increased risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss) and increase in infertility as women age.
As women get older the incidence of chromosomally abnormal eggs increases dramatically. This results in lower chances for getting pregnant at all, as well as increasing the risk of miscarriage.
Maternal Age and Pregnancy Loss Rate
The following table is a summary of information from several studies:
Maternal age |
Pregnancy |
< 30 |
5% |
30-34 |
8% |
35-39 |
16% |
40-41 |
30% |
42-43 |
40% |
44-46 |
60% |
The graph below shows national data on miscarriage rates after IVF from the 2006 CDC report (using own eggs).
- The CDC data only includes pregnancy losses after ultrasound confirmed pregnancy - the miscarriage rate would be higher if very early miscarriages (such as "chemical pregnancies") were included.
- The miscarriage rate after ultrasound confirmation of pregnancy was:
- 10% at age 25
- 14% at age 35
- 28% at age 40
- 47% at age 43
History of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss Rate
Miscarriage rates for women with a history of infertility tend to be higher than for fertile women.
The main reason for the increased risk for miscarriage in "older" women is due to the increase in chromosomal abnormalities (abnormal karyotype) in their eggs.
Chromosomal Problems in Aging Eggs
Many studies have documented the increased rate of chromosomal abnormalities in women of advanced reproductive age. The graph below shows the rate of chromosomally abnormal IVF eggs by female age (approximate and compiled from several studies).
We do not know exactly why there is an increase in chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs of women as they age. However, research has clarified some of the issues involved.
- The meiotic spindle is a critical component of eggs that is involved in organizing the chromosome pairs so that proper division of pairs can occur as the egg is developing
- When the chromosomes line up in a straight line on the spindle, the division process should proceed normally
- However, with a disordered arrangement on an abnormal spindle, the division process may be uneven - with an unbalanced chromosomal situation resulting
Older eggs are significantly more likely to have abnormal spindles - and an abnormal spindle predisposes to development of chromosomally abnormal eggs.
See more about chromosomal problems in aging eggs
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