If you have any interest in a long term prospective study of family planning and fertility then you may be interested in a much broader topic known as Statistics on Fecundity and Pregnancy. The subject matter is extremely interesting and can be approached from many different angles. First it must be understood that statistics are not objective. When we speak of statistics we are typically speaking about specific pieces of data that are created for the purposes of generalization.
Fertility statistics and their effects on a person’s life and future are not divorced from their social and political context. When we speak of a fertility statistic it is referring to a specific piece of information. For example, the age-specific fertility rate for women. If we were to take a more comprehensive approach and analyze pregnancy through the ages as well as total fertility rates for all populations of women then the analysis would look something like this: Total Fertility Rate – Age Specific Fecundity Rate – Fertility Rate – Age Specific Fecundity Rates for All Women. The total fertility rate for women represents the overall reproductive success for women within a certain age range and the age specific fertility rate represents the success rates for women in specific age groups.
As may be expected, when you are looking at these statistics you will find some variation. Some years you will see higher percentages of older women getting pregnant than others. There is always the potential for larger variations from year to year or even from year to decade. It is important to remember that all of the following statistics are estimates however they are still very useful in the planning stages of pregnancy and fertility.
Age-specific statistics can really help in the diagnosis of many fertility problems. This is especially true when the woman has had several years of difficulty conceiving. By analyzing specific statistics for the age groups where the pregnancy was successful, doctors can assess their chances of success for the new pregnancy of each age group and thus make the proper treatment adjustments accordingly. The information on the specific statistics for fecundity also allows the doctor to prescribe treatments that have a higher success rate over those that don’t.
Sexually active women can be very focused on conceiving but the statistics show that many of them will not actually conceive despite their efforts. For this reason it is very important to remain as active as possible in the early stages of pregnancy. The statistics reflect that women who exercise early in the pregnancy are much more likely to conceive than those who wait until the later stages. Exercise can have many positive benefits for both you and your baby.
Not surprisingly, the most common reason for pregnancy loss is ovulation failure. For women this often means missed the period during which they are fertile. By tracking their monthly cycles closely ovulation can be determined and charted. Using this information, fertility supplements can be used to help increase the chances of conception.
Statistics also show that the older women are when they try to get pregnant are less likely to conceive than younger women. Factors contributing to this include advancing age, being overweight or obese, having irregular menstrual cycles and carrying a high volume of uterine tumors. As women age, there are fewer eggs released from the ovaries and this leads to reduced fecundity. This is also why women over fifty years old are not advised to try to conceive if they are within five percent of their age.
Some women have no conception when they are in their late thirties and for others it can happen at any age. There may also be a genetic reason for fecundity issues. If fecundity and fertility problems are unexplained and continue to occur after trying the recommended treatments for at least one year, a doctor should be consulted. It may be that an underlying health problem is affecting her ability to conceive.