Tubal infertility treatment for older women

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Tubal infertility treatment for older women

As you age beyond your mid-30s, your fertility declines as your egg supply ages. Miscarriage rates also increase with age, from 7% to 15% in women under age 30, to 34% or higher in women age 40 and older.¹

If you are 35 or older and also have fallopian tube damage, you may not have the time to try tubal surgery and then, if you don't conceive after a number of months, try in vitro fertilization (IVF). With this in mind, try the one treatment that offers you the most promise of pregnancy, particularly if you are over age 40. Your choices are:

• In vitro fertilization (IVF). For older women with tubal infertility, experts recommend IVF, which offers a better chance of pregnancy than does tubal surgery.²
• Have a tubal procedure or surgery. Treatment success depends on what type of tubal problem you have combined with your age. Tubal procedures are available for women with:
  • Severe tubal disease or combined blockages in one tube.
  • Tubal blockage located close to the uterus.
  • Tubal blockage located close to the ovary.

References

Citations

1. Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Recurrent early pregnancy loss. In Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th ed., pp. 1069–1101. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

2. Levens ED (2006). Infertility. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 16, chap. 7. New York: WebMD.

Credits

Last updated:	March 21, 2008
Author:	Sandy Jocoy, RN
Reviewed By:	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC