Causes of infertility in the elderly
With the development of social economy and the improvement of living standards, more and more women choose to postpone childbearing, and the elderly childbearing has become an increasingly common phenomenon. However, the problem of infertility in the elderly also follows. The causes of infertility in the elderly mainly include physiological factors, psychological factors, medical technology restrictions and genetic factors.
Physiological factors
Physiological factors are one of the main causes of infertility in the elderly. With the growth of age, the number and quality of female eggs will gradually decline. The ovarian reserve of women has been fixed at birth, which decreases with age, thus reducing the chance of pregnancy. In addition, the endometrium of elderly women will also shrink and thin, which is not conducive to the implantation of fertilized eggs and the development of embryos.
In addition, older women are also prone to hormone imbalance, for example, the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) may increase or decrease, further affecting the development of eggs and the normal progress of ovulation.
In addition, older men also face difficulties in childbirth. The number and quality of male sperm will also decline with age, thus reducing the possibility of pregnancy.
psychological factor
Psychological factors are another important cause of infertility in the elderly. With the growth of age, many women will face doubts and anxiety about their fertility. This kind of psychological pressure will affect the normal function of the body, and then affect the birth process. Anxiety and tension may affect the normal operation of the reproductive system, leading to hormone secretion disorders, ovulation disorders and other problems.
Many elderly couples feel frustrated and hopeless due to long-term infertility, and this psychological pressure may further aggravate their reproductive difficulties. The influence of psychological factors on fertility is a relatively invisible factor, but it cannot be ignored.
Medical technology restrictions
Elderly childbearing often depends on assisted reproductive technology. However, at present, assisted reproductive technology has some limitations in some aspects. For example, although IVF can help older women conceive, the success rate is not high. In addition, because the uterus function of elderly women may be affected, some technologies such as embryo transfer may also face certain difficulties.
In addition, assisted reproductive technology also needs the support of medical facilities and professional teams. However, in some areas or hospitals, such facilities and teams may not be perfect enough to provide high standards of assisted reproductive technology services.
Genetic factor
Genetic factors are also an important reason for infertility in the elderly. With the growth of age, the ability of gene replication and repair will also be weakened, increasing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases. Older women may face the risk of chromosomal abnormalities during pregnancy, such as Down syndrome. In order to avoid birth defects, some elderly couples may choose not to try again.
In short, the causes of infertility in the elderly mainly include physiological factors, psychological factors, medical technology constraints and genetic factors. Childbearing infertility at an advanced age may bring distress and suffering to couples. Therefore, for elderly couples, appropriate childbearing age and scientific birth planning are very important. In addition, seeking help from professional medical institutions and doctors as soon as possible is also the key to solving the problem of infertility in the elderly.
