G

lobally, more women over the age of 30 are
giving birth than in any previous generation. In
fact, one in seven Australian women have their
first child at 35 years of age or older. Consid-
ering our grandmothers usually had their first
birth in their early twenties, this is a dramatic change.
The striking increase in maternal age during the preceding
four decades can be attributed to a range of medical, social and
societal changes, including widespread access to the oral contra-

ceptive pill and improved career opportunities for women.

Pregnancy may also be delayed due to circumstances beyond a

woman’s control, including illness or lack of a suitable partner.

Regardless of the reasons for postponing pregnancy, the

increasing age of first time motherhood presents significant

problems because fertility declines steeply after the age of 35

years. However, it does not do so at the same rate for every

woman, and the age when fertility may become compromised

varies considerably within the population. This conundrum

JAN/FEB 2016|| 17

Egg Supply

and Demand

KARLA HUTT & JOCK FINDLAY

Understanding the relationship between the number of healthy eggs stored in the ovaries
and the length of the fertile lifespan will lead to more accurate predictions about how long
each woman will remain fertile.

Maridav/Adobe