All the single ladies
Women today are very different from their grandmother’s generation! Today’s woman has a world of possibilities and opportunities. She has access to education, a career, travel and above all, financial independence.
As experts in Reproductive Medicine, we have seen how these social trends are having a greater impact on decisions about motherhood.
There has been a profound change in women postponing starting a family. The statistics now say 43% of first-time mothers in Europe are over 30 years old, which has almost doubled since in 1991.
Maybe you aren’t ready to start a family yet BUT you do envisage yourself with a family at some stage in the future. If this is the case, then you need to make a plan!
You may wonder why you need to worry about that now
Quite simply - because time matters!
Despite all these social changes, the biological facts remain the same. Female fertility declines with age. Women have the same chance of getting pregnant until they are 35 years old, but then fertility begins to decline dramatically.
Dr Mario Vega Rich explains, "After 40 years of age, things can be more difficult. I know it is not fair, but the age of men does not influence fertility as much as that of a woman."
You have a couple of options, depending on your age.
- Freeze your young eggs now for use when you are ready to start a family.
- Decide to become a single mother now.
If you like the sound of option 2 and you think you can go it alone, then the team here at Panama Fertility are here to support you and help that process with fertility treatment.
Not finding the one
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to find the right man before your fertility declines. Either your Mr. Right has not yet appeared or Mr. Right turned out to be Mr. Wrong! Either way you may have reached a point where your body clock is ticking loudly and your desire to be a mother is increasing.
Financial Independence
Research shows that the more educated a woman is, the more likely she is to delay having children.
Women continue to study longer and now outnumber men in higher education. It is normal that after spending an average of four years in college you want to get a return on that investment.
Working long hours to have a successful career and being competitive in the world of work can delay the decision to have children. However, this investment in education and a university career has resulted in more women being economically independent. They are able to support their children and are therefore independent, financially stable single mothers.
Changing social structures
Today's families come in a great variety of shapes and sizes. Whether it's a mom and her partner or two moms, increased access to fertility treatment for social reasons has allowed women who do not have a medical cause of infertility to start a family and become single mothers.
So, what can you do?
If you are not quite ready to start a family, it is now possible to freeze your eggs, and this is something worth considering if you are between 30-37 years old. Using your younger eggs will give you a much better chance of having a successful pregnancy when you are ready, whether you are in a relationship at the time or not.
If you want to have a baby at this time, there are two possible options: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) treatment and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) with donor sperm.
Wherever you are at the moment, knowing and understanding all of your options can give you the confidence you need to achieve motherhood while single on your own terms.
Where do I start?
The first step is to arrange a free telephone consultation with one of our Fertility Specialists. We will evaluate your overall health and assess your fertility. This allows us to plan strategically with you the best course of treatment to plan your family whether now or in the future.
Find the right sperm donor
We will work with you to find the right anonymous donor from our fully screened donor bank. Both you and the sperm donor undergo counselling to understand the implications of using or donating sperm. Sperm donors are screened for hereditary and infectious diseases.
Speak to our expert team about being a single mother by choice. We are here to give you the answers and guide you through the process.
