AUSTIN (KXAN)– Experts say infertility numbers continue to rise each year, and studies show 7 in 10 women still have not spoken with their physician about their fertility health.
In 2023, the fertility rate in Texas was 60.6 per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. In Texas, birth rates declined significantly; in 2007, Texas had a 79.2 birth rate compared to 61.9 in 2022.
“Infertility numbers are increasing; we know that there’s a lot of reasons for that, but probably the biggest one is that people, and for a lot of good reasons, are waiting longer and longer to start their families,” said Dr. David Prokai, a Fertility Specialist with Aspire Fertility in Austin.
Prokai said the drop might be linked to education, explaining that most patients don’t think to ask about their fertility until they’re ready to start a family.
“Infertility is estimated to affect one in six couples, which is so crazy if you think that you have at least six friends, you know, and per the odds, at least one of them is having some issues with fertility,” Prokai said.
Fertility education
Prokai said when discussing fertility with patients, the number one thing he and other physicians stress is that nobody is immune to age-related decline. It is normal, natural, and affects all.
“We need to know that potentially, we could be facing some difficulties if we’re trying to grow our family above the age of 35 or if we’re closer to 40. I think that’s not emphasized enough, certainly in fertility education,” Prokai said.
Prokai said that age-related infertility is a case-by-case situation. Yes, there will be women who conceive at age 40 or even older, but every woman’s body is different, and conceiving from the age of 35 and above can have its difficulties.
“I think the perfect time to discuss fertility with your physician is, if you think about it, if it’s even like a small inkling or twinkling that you’re like, should I ask? You definitely should,” Prokai said.
What causes infertility?
When thinking about what causes infertility, Prokai said it’s important to look at the whole picture and consider how everything in the body works together. Fertility experts will take a look at the patient’s ovarian, anatomical, and hormonal factors to determine the cause.
- Ovarian factors- Is the patient having regular menstrual cycles? Are they ovulating? What is their egg reserve or egg count?
- Anatomical factors- Does the patient have any issues affecting the cervix, uterus, or fallopian tubes?
- Hormonal factors- Is the patient experiencing any thyroid issues?
“And then, really important, and it’s underappreciated, is the effect that the male factor can have, whether it’s a sperm count issue or other factors related to male health that can have serious implications for the chances of a couple getting pregnant,” Prokai said.
Infertility misconceptions
From experience with his patients, Prokai said the biggest misconception he has heard about what causes infertility is the use of hormonal medication like birth control.
“There are also myths that you have to time it perfectly. I think that’s one of the things I try to dispel most, Prokai said. Being hyper-focused on when the perfect time or date to have intercourse is can cause additional stress to the pregnancy journey. In reality, Prokai said there is no perfect date.
Social media misinformation
Social media is a powerful and important source to spread information quickly, and for the most part, provides users with the most personal information. Prokai said that receiving information through this platform can be good, but there is still a lot of misleading information out there.
Some patients can be misled by fertility stories shared on social media. While personal experiences and testimonials can be powerful, it’s important to remember that factors like age, egg count, and overall health vary from person to person, so outcomes can be very different.
Although experiences may differ, Prokai said patients should never feel discouraged from asking their doctors about a treatment or test they saw on social media. “It’s important to know that when people share things on social media, it’s not always the whole truth. So always be aware of that,” Prokai said.
Fertility preservation
Fertility experts have spent years finding ways for women and men to preserve their fertility, so they can try to get pregnant in the future without worrying as much about potential challenges. “You can freeze eggs, you can freeze embryos, and you can freeze sperm as well,” Prokai said.
Patients who have chronic medical conditions like cancer and know they will be exposed to certain treatments often decide to go down a path of fertility preservation.
“Those patients are ideal candidates to preserve their fertility. We want to get their eggs now, their sperm now, before they’re potentially exposed to surgery, to chemotherapy or radiation, so that when they’re healed, they’re in a much better place, medically, physically, we can then use the egg and sperm, respectively to try to fulfill their fertility goals,” Prokai said.
The passage of time can also be devastating to fertility chances in the future, so preserving fertility, like egg and embryo freezing, can help put somewhat of a pause on biological clocks.
