12:29 AM
Anonymous
A formula that predicts a woman’s chances of pregnancy has been devised by scientists.
It combines information about how fertility drops with age with the length of time a woman has been trying to start a family, to come up with their odds of conceiving.
For example, they have worked out that the average 25-year-old who has been trying to get pregnant for six months has a 15 per cent chance of doing so in the following month.
By the age of 30, her odds are 13 per cent and, at 35, they have dropped below 10 per cent.
The speeding up of the biological clock mean the chances of pregnancy plummet after 35.
The average 40-year-old who has been trying for six months has just a 5 per cent chance of getting pregnant in the next month – or odds of one in 20.
The calculations also show that when a woman is 25, it will take 13 months for her odds of conceiving quickly to fall below ten per cent.
But a 35-year-old woman has just six months before her chances are so slim.
The long-standing rule of thumb is that those trying for a family should wait a year before seeking help, although doctors are increasingly acknowledging the impact of age.
The researchers, from the University of Warwick and the London School of Economics, say that more detailed information could make it easier for couples to discuss fertility issues with their GP.
Professor Geraldine Hartshorne said: ‘People feel embarrassed and upset and don’t want to go to the doctor. Men, in particular, can be a little bit reluctant.
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