The average age of women at first birth has risen over the past four decades. First birth rates for women aged 40 to 44 increased more than four-fold from 1985 to 2012, and first birth rates for women aged 35 to 39 rose in nearly all U.S. states from 2000 to 2012.  – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Read the full article on WTOP.com

While the data shows the age of women giving birth to their first child has increased, our biology (aka the biological clock) has not changed. These facts give rise to several questions, including: why is the age increasing and what does this mean for women and pregnancy?

Career development is one factor among many others that contributes to the increased age of first time mothers. According to Shelley Correll, a sociology professor and director of the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, “The time that’s most important in work, for getting your career established, often coincides with normal fertility time for women.”

For other women, life situations and circumstances can play a major role as to how egg freezing can offer them a unique type of insurance. For example, Shady Grove Fertility patients Tiffany and Mel found themselves in an unexpected divorce, but were determined to not give up on the dream of having children.

Dr. Eric Levens, of Shady Grove Fertility’s Annandale, VA office, comments on the increasing popularity of egg freezing. Coupled with the newer techniques which allow doctors to freeze eggs at a greater efficiency – egg freezing is now a reliable option for women looking to extend their fertility potential.

Read the full WTOP article.

If you would like to learn more about the Egg Freezing Program at Shady Grove Fertility, call 1-877-411-9292 or schedule an appointment today by filling out this brief form.

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