Chicago-area Infertility Specialist Richard Sherbahn, MD, Reports a Woman's Age Affects Her Chances of Successful Pregnancy from Eg...(t;There is a significant reduction in im...),Health

"A woman's uterine receptivity might decline with advancing age due to unknown biochemical and/or molecular changes in the uterine lining," he says. "This decline could also be the result of a higher incidence of other pathological conditions in the uterus, such as fibroid tumors, polyps, or scarring and adhesions known as Asherman's syndrome."

"High blood pressure and other systemic disorders are more common in older women; these could also contribute to the reduced potential for implantation and a successful pregnancy," Dr. Sherbahn explains.

For some women, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with donated eggs has succeeded after multiple IVF cycles using their own eggs have failed. Forty-year-old Gail and her husband are now expecting twins, thanks to IVF with donor eggs.

"This has been a seven-year journey for me and my husband," Gail explains. "I got married at 33, so we attempted to start a family right away. Within a year, I got pregnant naturally and miscarried. Then I got pregnant immediately again and miscarried a second time."

Gail and her husband sought fertility treatment at another clinic, undergoing six intra-uterine inseminations, also called artificial insemination, before trying IVF. "The first IVF we did worked -- I got pregnant again -- and miscarried," Gail recalls. "It was devastating." Three more IVF attempts at that clinic were unsuccessful, including one with donor eggs.

Then Gail and her husband came to the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago. "We chose egg donation because that was going to give us the best chance of success," she explains. "We went through one IVF cycle. They implanted two embryos -- and I'm 11 weeks pregnant! I'
'/>"/>