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WITH THE GENERAL election looming in early 2016, it’s time for those candidates who purport to be invested in long term planning about the future of the country to step up to the plate and make a case for a state-funded, nationwide education campaign on fertility awareness.
Ireland is one of three EU countries that do not fund IVF treatment for couples struggling with subfertility and with current health budget restrictions, this situation is unlikely to change anytime soon.
What politicians can do is commit in their election manifestos to an education programme on reproductive health for third level students. This campaign should be rolled out in all of our universities and third level institutions across the country.
Recent decades have seen huge advances in reproductive technology, which can now overcome previously insurmountable infertility problems. However, complex fertility treatments are expensive and Irish couples often struggle to afford these unsubsidised costs.
It is not unusual for couples to take out bank loans, borrow from parents or even re-mortgage their homes in order to pay for IVF treatment. These financial burdens are worth every cent when treatment is successful and couples achieve their dream of having a baby.
Fertility education
However, fertility treatments do not always succeed - the most common cause of repeated failure is poor egg quality caused by increasing age. To put it simply, if women leave it too late in life before starting to try to have a baby, they may find it impossible to do so with or without treatment – women who would probably have been able to become pregnant easily had they only started trying at a younger age, avoiding a huge and unnecessary emotional and financial toll.
The women I treat often express anger that they were not made aware at a younger age of basic realities surrounding fertility, particularly that women’s fertility starts to decline at age 30 with a sharp plunge after age 35. It’s clear that these women would have benefitted from an education and awareness programme about fertility in their early twenties.
I am not in favour of encouraging men and women who have just started their college life to start having babies, but I strongly believe that they should be armed with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future plans for a family.
Men as well as women need to be educated about reproductive responsibility. They need to be aware that, in the future, if they refuse to commit to parenthood soon enough, they may be depriving their partners the opportunity of motherhood.
College students should also be made aware of the negative impact on fertility of cigarette smoking and obesity. Lifestyle choices made now can affect future fertility prospects.
Take the steps now
Women in their early 30s, who intend to have children should be aware of fertility assessment services which can provide information on their reproductive health. The results are usually positive and reassuring, but if a concern is identified steps can be taken to deal with it at an early stage.
In some cases advice should be sought at an earlier stage. Fertility difficulties can be anticipated where women have irregular periods, have thyroid problems or have a family history of fertility problems or early menopause.
Men should seek early assistance where there is a history of undescended testicles or childhood mumps. The problem is that many men and women are unaware of fertility check services. A nationwide education campaign can go a long way towards educating them on the existence and benefits of these checks.
A fertility assessment check involves a blood test to measure the level of AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) which gives a good indication of a woman’s ovarian reserve (the numbers of eggs in her ovaries).
A transvaginal ultrasound scan is also carried out to provide information about a woman’s uterus and ovaries. A semen analysis test is straightforward with immediate results about the male’s fertility prospects.
Our election candidates need to take responsibility for the future health of the population they wish to serve. The first step they can take is to ensure our young people have access to vital knowledge that will empower them to make informed plans for their reproductive futures.
Dr John Waterstone MD MSc MRCOG CCST, is the Medical Director of Cork Fertility Centre.
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Jees how depressing, I’m 35 and single. Damn me for wanting to be financially stable; should’ve had children in my teens… life’s regrets eh
Not too late Mary, plenty of single men on this website i’d wager ;-)
If less educated people are popping out babies like rabbits and educated people are have less or none what does that do for or say about future evolution.
The, rather odd, assumption here is that education level is somehow the same as worth.
George, I didn’t specifically mean formal education. You can be educated without formal qualifications.
@George Salter. I think most people, who choose, get the point he’s making. And it’s a good one.
I’ve been wondering about this for a long time. With so many spending longer in education and many living at home til much later too adolescence has been extending into the late 20′s and even 30′s. That’s in sharp contrast to 40 years ago when it wasn’t unusual to be married and with a mortgage and kids by your mid-20′s. The we also have the rat race pushing up houses prices and so people work for a much longer period too.
I waited til I was 35 for my first and I just about had the energy for it, 39 for my second and it’s way tougher. Don’t hold out that long if you can avoid it – from an energy standpoint alone. We should have done it earlier imo, Closer to 30 would have been better all round.
When I’m 39 my eldest will be 20, my youngest will be 13. I couldn’t imagine having a newborn and toddler. I really do understand the old saying ‘life begins at 40′ it because all the kids are old enough to look after themselves (to a certain extent)
I’m 44. My three daughters have given me the best times of my life. We can’t have anymore children but I would really love another one. Especially at Christmas. The young ones are what makes it so special.
Absolutely Codology. What has now happened is that both parents are forced to work as the price for housing and debt mortgages has elevated hugely. This was not the case in the 1970s or 19080s. Since housing became a for profit trading commodity we removed the ability of many families to have a parent at home.
We are biologically designed to have children from early teens onward. I don’t believe we should be starting our families at 14 years of age but certainly we should have started in our 20s.
Agree there. I do notice and heard that men go on about women’s fertility instead of their own. It is not always about the women being the problem, men do run into fertility issues as well. From talking to some guys, they think they can have kids at any age which is not always the case. I do know quite alot of women who have kids at 35 to 40 and have healthy kids. some just didn’t meet their partner until later on in life.
I know men in their 60′s who have had healthy kids. It’s relatively common for men in their 50′s to have children. Men’s fertility decreases too but let’s not forget that it happens at a vastly different rate.
I think about this regularly. A woman I’m friends with is 44, her children are 7 and 9. When I’m 44 my children will be at University/ doing the leaving. There are elements of her home/life that are better than mine, which is understandable as she’s more than a decide older than me. I look forward to having my freedom back in my 40′s, to being able to socialise and not worry about babysitters. And most importantly for my children not to feel they need to take care of me.
I’m a man and thought this was common knowledge.
Dr John didn’t want women to get too cosy around the holidays so he kept some end of year scare tactics in his back pocket. Bless him.
It is not popular to voice the obvious fact that liberal modern living has suppressed and interfered with natural reproduction in the name of convenience, material gain, career success and debt repayment. The further we deviate from nature the sicker we become. It is very sad to see our most intelligent of women struggling to achieve child birth essentially dying out. Our falling birthrates of <1.9 per couple are not viable to sustain our populations in the West.
We need a fall in Child Birth Rates, way way to high and costing use a bomb in the process.
As for the West economic package is needed for the main urban area’s. A high rate would not sustain the population in the West as once they turn 17/18 they move to a city for college/work.
Paul when I say West I don’t mean Mayo – I mean the Western world (Europe, USA).
We certainly do need a fall in birth rates globally – Africa, India and the Middle East in particular.
Western populations are too low and dying. I suspect this may be part of an agenda. There are absolutely no campaigns to boost our fatal birthrates and we are being replaced by third world over population.
In some cases, it would be useful if men move faster and accept responsibility at a young age as well (in early 30′s). This is one issue that I see in alot of cases as they don’t want responsibility until later on in life leading problems for the female partner as well.
Totally agree Ava. The majority of single, accomplished, beautiful friends I have in their 30s would love to meet someone and settle down. But it is the last thing on the minds of the men they meet. It is so so difficult for my friends to meet guys who would like to be in a relationship. I am in a great relationship now, but you can hardly just get pregnant through your own choice, and while you are renting and haven’t even moved in together yet etc. A lot of guys believe they are not ready as they are not financially stable enough yet and none of their friends in their early 30s are settling down. It’s a catch 22 for women
I know friends who get tired of getting asked their age. 35 to 39 is still time. They get asked their age and I can see how compatible they are. Such a sad tragedy if so compatible. I know someone who learned that her boyfriend can’t have kids for some reason recently and she still stuck with him no matter what. If the person loved you, they make a go of it and commit as soon as possible.
Well the thing is, women have a huge upper hand in dating in their early to mid 20′s. Most women are oblivious to the ferociously competitive and at times viscous dating field that men that same age face. The odds only start to balance out when both genders hit their late 20′s and early 30′s. Men generally gain more confidence, grow into their features and become fully financially independent. They now are open to dating a wider age range, when you are a 24 year old guy, your options are in the 20-24 year old range. When you are 31, your options are 23-31.
Interesting point there China. I never seen it myself in the people I mix with. Most women are serious about the guys they want to date in their 20′s and some found that the guys are not ready to be committed. We get mixed opinions on the people we mix with in society.
For Dr Waterstone to suggest women become angry when learning that fertility declines at age 30 & esp. after age 35, is remarkable & an untruth. I am a male & born in the early 60′s. I would have been aware from my late teens that womens fertility declines from age 30. Thats without any ‘sex’ education which has been widely available in our schools throughout the past 25yrs. And then he wants a state handout to subsidise ai treatment – which of course will line his own pockets. This country has other more pressing & humain problems to address, other than this.
There are many couples who have fertility problems who are in their late 20s and early thirties….it’s very frustrating as you can be fobbed off by doctors telling you that “you are still young”. I found it so frustrating at the time. While age is an issue, I think that there is too much focus on age and not enough info on how to see the signs and symptoms at a young age.
Most fertility problems have nothing to do with age. However, it seems reasonable for 2 healthy people to keep trying for a baby for another while without resorting to invasive or hormonal treatments. There is no sudden drop off in fertility, so people can keep trying. (IVF probably is more successful in younger women though)
Women seem to simultaneously know this and not know this. They know fertility declines, but they are bombarded with media images of celebrities having kids in their late 30′s and early 40′s and think this is perfectly attainable and normal. What they don’t see are the countless couples of that age who are unable or struggling to conceive, because those people say nothing and are not splashed on glamorous magazines. The statistics are there for all to see.
Women know this. At the end of the day, it depends if they meet someone or not. Some do meet someone later on in life and have a family successfully. That is regardless of degrees, etc. Depends if you meet someone or not.
Ava lets face it, if women don’t meet “someone” by the age of 39, then they clearly have prioritized other things in life (such as career). Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but they have made their own bed.
Cal, I know some who are happy to meet someone but just have not meet anyone yet. You don’t get together with someone for the sake of it. That point is not true. I know plenty who love to meet someone but just didn’t. Some even tried internet dating as well. It is not easy for some people. Some are lucky and others are just not. I know some of the most lovely people including men who just have not met anyone.
It’s stating the obvious.
You can get a college degree at any age. You can get a dream job at any age and a mortgage, but you can’t have kids at any age.
You certainly cannot get a mortgage at any age! My boss, who just about scrapes a 6 figure salary had to fight tooth and nail to get a mortgage because he was 40 and the banks thought he was too old to be taking on such a financial commitment. I fear the average Joe wouldn’t stand a chance at getting a mortgage past 40.
What a load of bull shit!! So if your’re heading for 35 and no kids it’s because you weren’t educated in fertility. Maybe some of us don’t want kids but god forbid anyone says that there always has to be some excuse for not reproducing. When will the issue of children be just a couples business and no one else’s !
Exactly. The doctor is spouting bullshit. There is no sudden fall off in fertility. For a proper view on the subject, read
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/how-long-can-you-wait-to-have-a-baby/309374/
Good article. We’re constantly finding out about celebrities having children in their 40s but we’re hardly ever reminded it involved IVF at the couple’s personal expense.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that the boundary of adulthood is continually being pushed upwards. The teenager is a 20th century invention. In the 19th century if you had an adult male or adult female body you were an adult.
There’s an enormous gulf in the typical behaviour of an 11 or 12 year old and a 17 or 18 year old. But there’s no significant difference behaviourally or physically between someone in their late teens and someone in their late 20s for example.
We read articles about how your brain doesn’t fully develop until your 20s and things like this. While I’m not disputing the validity of such claims I believe it contributes to the idea that people in their 20s are not adults yet and all the serious stuff can be put on hold for another 10 or 15 years.
An adult male or adult female used to be called a man or woman respectively, now if you’re a bit baby-faced you’re a “young lad”. Anyone in their 20s is a “young man” or “young woman”. Adult females (women) are still called girls right from the late teens to 30 odd. Our language reflects this culture.
I’m in my early 20s. When someone says to me “you’ve your whole life ahead of you” I roll my eyes. I’m not a pessimist, I’m just realistic. When I was an infant, just a few months old that was true but not now.
I’ve my whole working life ahead of me, not biological life. I’ll make the assumption that I’ll be physically unfit from middle age onwards and mentally unfit at an advanced age, assuming I don’t die in a car accident or suffer a terminal illness before then. So really I’m about halfway through my lifespan. Better to have low expectations. Don’t mean to be a downer!
I’ve really only a good 20 years or so being in a decent mental and physical state. If I was female, I’d get my eggs frozen asap in my 20s. I’m still aware that we don’t get off totally either. Even for men, leaving it very late increases the risk of genetic problems.
In my mind, once you’ve reached your late teens, you’re an adult full stop.
We need to have a culture change and place more emphasis on planning ahead and being realistic.
Was too long for one comment.
Well, at one time, you’ve got it, and then you lose it, and it’s gone forever. All walks of life: Georgie Best, for example. Had it, lost it. Or David Bowie, or Lou Reed…
Right. So we all get old and then we can’t hack it anymore. Is that it?
Yeah
That’s your theory?
Yeah. Beautifully f’n illustrated.
Qwerty, if you’ve managed to survive into your twenties, your life expectancy is somewhere in the nineties. You have another 7 decades to go. Take it easy there.
So, an article from a private fertility clinic essentially advertising its features for free. (or did they pay?).
The problem is that the headline is false. “The widely cited statistic that one in three women ages 35 to 39 will not be pregnant after a year of trying, for instance, is based on an article published in 2004 in the journal Human Reproduction. Rarely mentioned is the source of the data: French birth records from 1670 to 1830. The chance of remaining childless–30 percent–was also calculated based on historical populations.”
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/07/how-long-can-you-wait-to-have-a-baby/309374/
I don’t think we should try to scare women and men on the basis of 200 year old data. The facts are that most fertility problems have nothing to do with women’s age. More recent studies show that women over 35 have between a 78 and 82 percent chance of getting pregnant within a year.
I think you’re being a little less than honest about the dangers of pregnancy in women over 30.
Dangers? In women over 30? What are you talking about? Age in itself confers little “danger” to a pregnancy – smoking, obesity, diabetes etc – these cause risks. to say that someone who is 31 has a higher danger during a pregnancy than a 29 year old is simply nonsense.
From 25 up there is a sliding scale upwards which represents a significant increased risk of fetuses having congenital malformations. Do you disagree?
Hold the front page for this ground breaking incursion into medical science and anatomy. And let’s donate millions to develop these research goals immediately- this affects women.
Needless scare tactics towards women.
So, nothing at all to do with men, JimmyMc? Men who may wish to start a family? You really are some sad git. There are enough guys on this forum with “issues ” about women to keep every shrink in the country busy for the next ten years
This sort of article doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know. It doesn’t help all those people who may want children but aren’t in a position to right now, for whatever reason. I can’t stand this sort if pontificating.
Advertorial
Yet again another doctor petitioning the gov trying to get funds for a yet another quango. Ireland has a perectly healthy birth rate. Yes education is the key but if people don’t want children fair play.
The Dirty Thirties.
Children with down syndrome are often the last born in a family. Father time takes no prisoners. Age ravages the body.
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