The stats to know about fertility

The key stats to know about fertility

Every woman is different when it comes to her fertility and there are no guarantees or assurances regarding the chances of getting pregnant.

However, there are some key numbers to know on the subject of reproduction.

Recently in a Women’s Agenda/Genea poll, we uncovered some wide variations in how much women know about fertility.

For example, around 33% of those surveyed believe a sexually-active woman under the age of 35 has a 25% to 50% chance of getting pregnant each month, while a further 17% believe the chances are more than 50%.

According to Genea, it’s actually more like a 15 to 25% chance.

Genea Fertility Specialist, Dr Anthony Marren says, “it can be a bit of a surprise when pregnancy doesn’t come easily for a couple”. Also, for those that are trying to conceive “it’s not always about the amount of intercourse you’re having, but rather the timing of the intercourse. It is important to understand when in your cycle you are most fertile, and time sex accordingly. Sex on alternative days leading up to and during the ovulation period is our usual recommendation.”

A better understanding of averages when it comes to fertility can also go a long way in helping us make better decisions about our lives.

As such and with the help of Genea, we’ve uncovered some key numbers to keep in mind:

1 million. The average number of eggs a woman is born with.

400,000 – 500,000. The average number of eggs a woman has by the time she gets her first period

Early 20s. The age at which a woman’s fertility peaks, before gradually declining.

4 in 10. The number of cases of infertility that can be attributed to the male partner.

35. The age at which men’s fertility starts to decline. After 35, men may have increased levels of sperm DNA damage, a small increased risk of passing on birth defects and disease and poorer testicular function. The decline becomes more significant after age 45.

6. The number of months fertility specialists advise you should try to conceive naturally before seeking help if you are over the age of 35. 12 months if you are under

15%. The chance a 36-year-old woman has of getting pregnant naturally each month, this figure drops to 10% by the age of 39.

13,000. The approximate number of babies born per year in Australia by parents undertaking Assisted Reproductive Treatment.

25%. The approximate percentage of parents undertaking ART who have already given birth.

11%. The percentage of women around the world who suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, although a large number of cases go undiagnosed. PCOS is a leading cause of infertility.

30%. The percentage of women facing fertility problems that have endometriosis.

1.81. The average number of births per woman in Australia, according to 2014 ABS stats.

18.5 – 24.9. The healthy BMI range for adults. A parent’s BMI can influence their ability to conceive naturally.

14. The number of days after the start of a woman’s period that she will typically ovulate (for a woman with a regular 28 day cycle) A number of calculators can help, including this one from Genea.

Speak with Genea’s fertility advisor or book a free fertility assessment.

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