1 in 8 couples struggle to get pregnant

FARMINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- For some couples trying to start a family and getting pregnant can be a real struggle. There have been advancements in infertility treatments but despite that Dr. Claudio Benadiva at UConn Health Center says a key factor to giving birth is still a woman's age.

1 in 8 couples in the US struggles with getting pregnant. Fertility decreases as a woman ages so many turn to infertility treatments in hopes of starting a family.

"If a couple needs IVF, it is probably the most effective treatment," said Dr. Benadiva.

Dr. Claudio Benadiva heads up the Invitro-Fertilazation or IVF laboratory at The Center For Advanced Reproductive Services at UConn Health Center.

Advances in the field have led to more positive results.

"A single embryo transfer is something we are doing more and more," said Dr. Benadiva.

That's because doctors are now able to better identify healthy embryos which has also decreased the odds of multi-births.

Storing sperm has been around for some time but now that freezing eggs is no longer considered experimental, single women are weighing in.

"What I'm seeing is more and more patients that are coming to freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility," said Dr. Benadiva. "Single women that are not ready to have a family yet, they haven't found a partner, Mr. Right yet but they realize their biological clock is ticking."   

Still just like other women who want to have baby, age is a major factor when it comes to egg freezing.

"I'm seeing patients in their late 30's, early 40's that are still single. At that point when I'm seeing them, they already don't have a lot of eggs, the quality of those eggs is not great," said Dr. Benadiva.
  
It's costly to seek help. Invitro-Fertilization can start at $10,000.