Most people dream of having children from the time that they are children themselves. However, as life wears on, many will discover that this goal isn’t as easy as it once appeared: not only are people typically waiting later to have children in order to create the necessity stability, but a number of factors can actually cause problems with men and women’s health that can drastically reduce the chances of conception. For example, smoking five cigarettes a day has been associated with lower fertility rates in both genders. Likewise, two studies in 2003 found that life-long depression and financial hardship can cause women to enter an early menopause, one of the main reasons women may be unable to conceive without forms of assisted reproductive technology.
Menopause is defined as the point in a women’s life in which she has experienced 12 months without a period and is therefore unable to become pregnant. Throughout most of history, because life spans were shorter, women would begin bearing children at fairly young ages, meaning menopause was not one of the common causes of infertility in women. In modern times, however, while longer life spans have allowed women to postpone childbirth, the average age of menopause has remained the same for several centuries, making it impossible for couples to have children in the prime of their lives. Moreover, because menopause occurs at different times for every women, some women may have less time then they initially realized: although the average age is 51, some women will experience menopause in their 30s, while others may wait until their 60s. Fortunately, there are a number of infertility solutions available to women who have been previously unable to give birth.
Women under the age of 35 are typically advised to try to get pregnant for one year before discussing infertility solutions and other options with their doctor or another healthcare professional. If a woman is over the age of 35, however, and has not been able to successfully conceive, it may be necessary to speak with a specialist about the variety of different menopause solutions that are likely at their disposal. Currently infertility solutions can include medication, surgery, in vitro fertilization, and other procedures. Women who just begun menopause may benefit from bioidentical hormone therapy, which can be used in patients in their 50s for up to five years without increasing the risk of heart disease, although screenings for high blood pressure and breast cancer may be recommended. If you want to realize your dream of having children, investigate your options: talk to a fertility specialist today about infertility solutions and treatments.