Is it true that getting pregnant becomes more difficult with age?

It is a fact that as women age, it is more difficult to become pregnant. Women are born with a limited number of egg cells and are not capable of making new eggs. In fact, the number of eggs will continuously decline each month at the onset of puberty. In addition to the decrease in egg count, the quality of eggs also deteriorates with age like any other cells in our body. For this reason, as women get older, especially after 35 years of age, their chances of getting pregnant become significantly lower and the risk of miscarriage and fetal chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome becomes substantially higher. On the contrary, men can produce sperm throughout their lifetime. Therefore, their fertility are not effected by age.

Will women with blocked fallopian tubes still getting pregnant?

Women with blocked fallopian tubes can still become pregnant by undergoing tubal surgery, which is found to be effective in the case of blockages caused by tubal ligation. However, if the fallopian tubes are blocked by scar tissue or adhesions, the surgery may not be as effective due to a high chance of recurrent blocked tubes. In most cases, if the fallopian tubes become blocked due to reasons other than tubal ligation, doctors will often recommend IVF instead of surgery.

How to prepare for semen analysis?

For accurate results, it is essential to get enough sleep, avoid alcohol consumption, smoking, or any other activities that can be detrimental to sperm, and avoid ejaculation for 2–7 days prior to the test.

How to prepare for pregnancy?

To ensure a healthy pregnancy, schedule an appointment with your doctor for preconception checkup and carrier screening to identify your risk of passing a genetic disorder to your child. It is also important to take vitamin supplements such as folic acid for at least 1 month before conception.