What genuinely rises with age
Time to conception lengthens and the chance per cycle falls, mostly through egg quality rather than egg count. The risk of miscarriage rises, driven largely by chromosomal abnormality, as does the risk of chromosomal conditions in a continuing pregnancy. Gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placental problems and caesarean delivery all become more common. These are population-level shifts in probability, not verdicts on an individual.
What does not change as much as people think
Most pregnancies after 35 are uncomplicated and end with a healthy baby. The absolute numbers matter more than the relative ones: a risk that doubles from very small to small is still small, and quoting the doubling without the baseline is how these conversations frighten people out of proportion to the actual change. Ask your clinician for the absolute figures for your situation.
What is actually modifiable
Not your age. But blood pressure, glycaemic control, thyroid status, iron status, folate status, body weight, smoking and alcohol all are — and several of them are exactly what drives the complications listed above. This panel covers part of that list: glycaemic control, lipids, inflammation, vitamin D, kidney and liver. Thyroid, iron and folate are not on it, so ask your clinician for those as well. What we measure, we measure before you are pregnant and hand to you and to the clinician who will manage the pregnancy.
Who should actually be seen, and when
General guidance is to seek assessment after twelve months of trying under 35, and after six months at 35 or over — sooner if cycles are irregular or absent, if there is known endometriosis or pelvic surgery, or if there have been recurrent losses. That assessment belongs with a reproductive endocrinologist or your OB-GYN. AZZA is a panel and a physician who reads it. It is not a fertility clinic, and anyone telling you otherwise is overselling.
Key points
- Egg quality, not count, drives most of the age effect.
- Ask for absolute risk, not the relative figure.
- Six months of trying at 35+ is the usual point to seek assessment.
- AZZA measures and refers. It does not treat infertility.
AZZA Medical is not a medical provider and does not practice medicine. Medical services are provided exclusively by independently licensed physicians of our partner physician network and their affiliated professional entities.
Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated by FDA for safety or effectiveness.
This is not emergency care. AZZA Medical does not provide urgent or emergency medical services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.