Women (and men) are bombarded by the media with many different messages about when to start having children. A recent article by the Daily Mail suggested that if a woman wants to have three children she should begin at the age of 23. Other sources suggest that waiting until you’re older provides a better, more stable situation to raise children. While it’s true that women and men are working against their own biological clock, the dates of when it’s appropriate to have children aren’t cut and dry. For many women, having children in their early twenties is not an option whether for monetary, relationship, health, or emotional reasons. When you decide to have a child is entirely up to you. That being said, there are factors to consider when deciding to delay or begin your family.
Timing. Many young women find a difficult balance between becoming a mother and progressing their career or personal goals. Women in their early twenties have the benefit of egg freezing or egg vitrification to help ensure that they have healthy eggs once they are ready to become pregnant. Our Connecticut fertility center offers egg freezing, sperm freezing, and embryo freezing for patients who know they want to start their family – just at a later date.
Physical Health. Patients with medical illnesses may also need to delay pregnancy until they are healthier and can safely carry a pregnancy. Resources like in vitro fertilization (IVF) can help some patients conceive, even into their mid to late 40s. In cases of cancer, patients are able to freeze eggs or embryos before treatment for later use without the worry that radiation will harm egg and embryo health.
Fertility Health. In some cases, women who would like to become pregnant in their early twenties are not able to conceive. Infertility can affect women in their early twenties for a myriad of reasons including PCOS, early menopause, endometriosis, and unexplained miscarriages. For patients who experience early infertility, you may be encouraged to meet with a fertility doctor as soon as possible, as some fertility factors (such as egg and sperm health) can compound with age.
Relationship Status. Some women choose to delay having children because they have not found the right partner. Women who are concerned about their age and their ability to have children have the option to freeze their eggs for later use. Additionally, our fertility clinic provides caring assistance to single intended parents who have decided to begin their family on their own.
Park Avenue Fertility is focused on helping our patients achieve a healthy pregnancy on their own timeline. We offer the most advanced treatment options to ensure that you get the best possible care. To learn more about our center and what assisted reproductive services we offer, please call us at 855-901-BABY to schedule a consultation with Dr. Levi.