Advanced Age
At Fertility Specialists of Houston we believe it is essential for our patients to understand what is happening to them every step of the way. We want you to maintain a feeling of control about the process. After your initial consultation our physician will be able to determine a preliminary diagnosis and make testing recommendations.
Once the initial work-up is complete and test results are reviewed, a diagnosis can be pinpointed and a treatment plan begun. We will educate you thoroughly about your particular diagnosis, but we have provided an overview below. Please contact us if you have any questions about this information or your own specific situation.
"Advanced" maternal age is defined as any expectant mother who will have made her 35th birthday by the time she delivers her child. Health care providers have traditionally viewed any woman over the age of 35, especially having her first pregnancy, as a high risk patient.
Some diseases that may be present in pregnant women 35 or older, and which may affect their pregnancy, are arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes. Those risk factors can be monitored, and, through technology, detected and treated to help assure a safe pregnancy. The risk that cannot be overcome by a healthy lifestyle is a chromosomal abnormality. It is not completely understood, but statistically, the genetic material within the egg is at a greater risk of becoming defective as the woman ages. The absence or addition of a chromosome can lead to abnormalities like Down syndrome.
Due to increased risk of abnormalities, genetic testing is available to any woman 35 or older that is attempting to conceive. The standard tests offered are chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis. CVS testing can be performed as early as nine weeks, with results within a few days, yet amniocentesis has been around longer and used much more extensively, mostly performed until the 14 - 16 week, with results available within a week or two.
* The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written on this site. No health information on this website should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.
