Many families planning for pregnancy may have heard the following two statements: First, young people will not need to rely on IVF technology to prepare for pregnancy; second, once they enter the advanced stage of preparing for pregnancy, they can only choose the third-generation IVF technology.

Although these two views are widely circulated, they are in fact not absolute. Age is not an exclusive consideration in the choice of pregnancy preparation and test tube options. Today, we will comprehensively analyze the truth behind the age of pregnancy preparation to set the record straight.

Myth 1: Young people will inevitably not need to be pregnant in vitro.

Many people believe that youth means strong fertility. Even if they encounter difficulties during the process of preparing for pregnancy, they can naturally conceive by recuperating the body without considering tube technology. However, age is only one aspect of assessing fertility. In fact, even if you are young, you still need to use test tube technology to realize your fertility desire if the following circumstances exist

1. The woman's fallopian tube is blocked or hydrops, causing the sperm and eggs to fail to naturally combine

2. The man suffers from severe oligospermia, asthenospermia or teratospermia, and it is difficult for sperm to reach the fallopian tube by themselves to complete the fertilization process.

3. Presence of immune infertility or severe endometriosis

4. Both couples were infertile for unknown reasons and failed to conceive successfully after a long period of standardized pregnancy preparation.

The advantages of the young group are better ovarian reserve and relatively high egg quality, but this does not mean that the young group will not experience infertility problems, nor does it mean that they absolutely need the help of test tube technology. Many young couples miss the right opportunity to intervene because of delayed examinations. In fact, there are clear medical standards for infertility: if you have not taken contraceptive measures and have not yet become pregnant after one year of regular sharing (if the woman's age is ≥35 years old, it will be shortened to half a year), it is recommended to go to the reproductive department for a comprehensive evaluation.

Myth 2: The view that when preparing for pregnancy at an advanced age, you can only choose third-generation IVF technology

is one of the most widely circulated rumors.

Many women over the age of 35 who are planning to conceive take the initiative to request direct third-generation IVF technology when they step into the reproductive center. They believe that the eggs of older women have poor chromosome quality and must pass PGT (Preimplantation Genetic Testing) technology to screen embryos. However, the truth is not the case. Advanced age does not mean having to choose third-generation IVF technology.

- For first-generation and second-generation IVF technology, it is also applicable to the elderly. If there are only ovulation disorders or sperm problems, and both couples have no chromosomal abnormalities, no family history of genetic diseases, and no previous history of repeated fetal arrest abortion, first or second generation IVF technology can be given priority.

- PGT in the third-generation IVF technology, its main role is to screen for chromosomal abnormalities or monogenic inherited diseases in embryos. Third-generation test tubes are not the exclusive choice for the elderly. The third-generation test tube technology can be implemented only after meeting medical indications and undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by a reproductive doctor.

It is true that the probability of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs in older women increases with age, which in turn increases the risk of fetal arrest and miscarriage. However, the third generation test tube is not a comprehensive solution to all problems, and its limitations are mainly reflected in the following aspects

1. Embryo biopsies are required for the third generation test tube. This process may lead to a certain degree of embryo loss, and may even appear that there are no embryos to be screened after raising the cysts.

2. The cost is significantly higher than that of first-generation and second-generation tube technology

. In my country, third-generation test tube technology has strict indication requirements, and applications cannot be submitted based on age alone.

3. Reasonably view the real impact of age on test tube technology

1. A key turning point in women's 35 abilities, after which ovarian reserves and egg quality will decline significantly, and the decline will accelerate further after the age of 40

. In tube technology, the live birth rate in elderly patients is relatively low, and the risk of abortion increases correspondingly by

3. The age of the man also has an impact on the quality of the embryo. The increased rate of sperm DNA fragmentation in older men will also increase the risk of adverse pregnancy. Therefore, attention should not only be paid to the woman's age.

4. How should couples planning to get pregnant respond?

Young couples planning to get pregnant: You can try to get pregnant normally and have pre-pregnancy check-ups on time. If you have not succeeded after one year of trial pregnancy, you should go to the reproductive department for medical treatment in time to avoid blindly waiting.

Elderly couples (≥35 years old): It is not recommended to blindly test pregnancy for a long time. If it is not successful within half a year, a check-up should be carried out as soon as possible. Select the right first-generation, second-generation or third-generation tube technology based on the doctor's assessment results, and never ask for an upgrade of the technology yourself.

No matter what age group you are in, you should not decide your own test tube plan based on age alone. The choice of test tube technology should comprehensively consider various factors such as etiology, test results and genetic risks.

Although writing at the last

age is an important factor affecting fertility, it is not the exclusive criterion for selecting test-tube technology. There is no absolute saying that "one must not need test tubes when one is young", nor is there a conclusion that "one can only choose three generations of test tubes when one is old." Scientific evaluation, following doctor's advice, and choosing the most suitable plan for you are the most rational way to prepare for pregnancy.