Fertility
Age, lifestyle and infertility are some of the main causes that explain the worrying birth rates.
HM Fertility Centerbelonging to HM Hospitales, has brought together health professionals, mothers and fathers with the aim of demystify some of the most widespread beliefs about fertility and present advances in the field of reproductive medicine.
The vice president of the HM hospital group, Elena Abarcaopened the day by highlighting the importance of «sensitivity» that you have to have when working in assisted reproduction, something that, sometimes, some doctors forget.
The idea of celebrating this Day, as explained by Dr. Ana Gaitero, director of HM Fertilty Center: «It is to create an open space where you can cShare feelings and experiences “We seek to support women and their partners on their path to motherhood and fatherhood, in addition to informing and demystifying misconceptions.”
Abarca stressed that one in six couples experience difficulties conceivinga reality supported by numerous international studies that began back in the seventies with the birth of Louise Brown, the first test tube baby born on July 25, 1978, considered one of the most important milestones in medicine in the last two centuries.
According to a study by the consulting firm Statista, regardless of the possible medical complications that may arise during the process, the waiting time to access these treatments in public centers exceeds a year in many cases and their cost in private clinics ranges between 450 and 8,000 euros. Furthermore, we must take into account the fact that the percentage of pregnancies obtained thanks to assisted reproduction techniques decreases considerably the older the patient is.
During the day, Abarca highlighted that in 2023, 322,075 births were registered in Spain, with a birth rate of 7.01 births per thousand inhabitants, figures comparable to those of 1941. The average age of motherhood has been delayed to 31.6 years. Spain has become the first country in the European Union in the number of first-time mothers over 40 years of age.
False myths
Ana Gaitero, director of HM Fertility Center, debunked several common myths about fertility. She clarified that nutrition, menstruation and rest after in vitro fertilization do not decisively affect conception. She also dismantled the main fertility myths, such as the role of antimullerian hormonewhether fertility treatments guarantee pregnancy or the importance of daily habits.
Some of the most widespread myths, according to the experts present are: “if I have my period I am fertile”; lazy sperm cause infertility; Having low anti-Müllerian hormone means that you are infertile or that contraceptives can affect fertility.
Although it has been shown that A healthy lifestyle has a great impact on fertility: adequate body weight, choosing the right diet, exercising and sleeping well and it is essential to achieve a healthy hormonal cycle so that the woman achieves the desired ovulation.
The controversy over antimullerian hormoneexplaining that, although is not a definitive marker of fertilitycan be useful in assisted reproduction treatments and egg preservation.
Egg freezing
Currently, more than six million children have been born thanks to assisted reproduction worldwide, according to data from the HM Fertility Center. The reproductive life planning and fertility education are now crucial to maintaining and improving these figures and reliable information is vital throughout this process.
Clara Alvarado, nurse and actress, shared her personal experience about egg preservation, describing it as “life and peace of mind insurance.” Gaitero added that, although There is no ideal profile for egg preservation, it is preferable for healthy women under 35 years of age to consider this option. The success rate can reach up to 60% depending on the age and health status of the patient.
