As reported in WHAS11, January 2010, Title: 90% loss of fertile follicles at age 30 (by Roger Fortuna) By the time women reach age 30, nearly all the good eggs in their ovarian tissue have been expelled, and new research finds that women who delay childbearing for too long may have permanent difficulty conceiving. The study, published by the Universities of Edlux and Edinburgh in Scotland, found that women have lost 90 percent of their follicles by age 30 and retain up to 3 percent by age 40. It is common knowledge that the older a woman is the more difficult it is to conceive. But this is the first study to determine the loss of high-quality follicle counts, and the study shows a more rapid decrease than previously thought. The quality of follicles also decreases over time, increasing the difficulty of conception and the risk of fetal abnormalities. Dr. Marie Savard, a Good Morning America medical contributor, visited the GMA to explore this issue and its implications for future mothers. She believes that “women are losing their eggs faster than we think. As they age, pregnancy “becomes more difficult, even for all assisted reproductive technologies,” she says. That’s a sign of the biological clock,” she says. Her advice to women who want to have children is “the sooner the better. Questions and Answers on Reproductive Issues Question: What can be done to slow down the decline in fertility? Answer: You can’t reverse the biological clock, but Savard believes there are certain factors that affect fertility that you can control. For example, quitting smoking, losing weight and reducing stress can all slow down the loss of fertility. Women with multiple pregnancies can have longer fertility, and some women are born with more follicles than others. The more follicles a woman is born with, the longer her reproductive years are and the more often she conceives, until her fertility begins to decline during menopause. Question: If someone takes birth control pills, will it affect her fertility? Answer: No. Savard says the pill does not affect a woman’s fertility or follicle count in any way. Even if you take the pill for a long time, it won’t affect your fertility. A woman’s menstrual cycle – if it is too long or too short – does not predict a woman’s fertility. Question: Should women have children early? Answer: Savard says women should have children early if possible. healthy women in their 40s think they can delay conception, which may jeopardize their chances of conceiving. Women considering pregnancy should talk to their doctor about their family history, and Savard stresses that assisted conception techniques have a lower success rate in older women. Only 10 percent of women in their 40s have had a single successful conception through IVF. Question: Is there any way for women to test their follicle count? Answer: Savard says there is no way to determine the exact number of follicles. Indirect methods include ultrasound to detect the size and number of ovarian follicles, and also to test blood hormone levels. Finally, Savar notes that it’s important for women to be aware that “time is an issue. “If you’re planning to start a family, don’t wait too long.” She says, “It’s life, it’s facts – we have to protect our follicles.”