Infertility treatment in women over 40 years of age

Women experience a sharp decline in fecundity after the age of 40. Most research points to decreasing oocyte competency and ovarian function as the main causes of this downward trend. Aggressive treatment with in vitro fertilization, laboratory techniques that improve the implantation ability of embryos, and ovum donation can help many of these women achieve healthy pregnancies. Such medical advances are accompanied by new ethical challenges.