Whether you’re Angelina Jolie or Jane Smith, American women are increasingly waiting until their 30s to have their first child. In fact, more than a third of first-time moms in the U.S. are older than 30, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

The challenge is that women’s fertility peaks in their 20s, and once a woman is 35 or older, her fertility drops dramatically. “But for women who are unable to have children in their 20s, whether due to their career, a lifestyle choice, or a health reason, there are options available to help women realize their dreams of having children in the future,” said Angela Beausejour, Tissue Bank Coordinator for Xytex Tissue Storage (XTS).

Option #1: Embryo Storage.
The creation of embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF), which combines an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which injects a single sperm into an egg, can often help women with infertility issues or women who have delayed childbearing to successfully become pregnant.

After a woman undergoes ovarian stimulation, her eggs are retrieved, or women may opt to use donor eggs. Combined with sperm from a partner or from a donor, the resulting embryos would then be implanted in a woman’s uterus or stored for future use. “Typically, women going through IVF or ICSI may wish to store embryos for future cycles to eliminate the need for additional ovarian stimulation and egg retrievals in the future,” said Beausejour.

About 12 percent of the reproductive-age population is affected by infertility, according to the CDC’s National Survey of Family Growth, 2002. Embryo storage can effectively help about one-third of those with infertility issues achieve their dreams of having a baby, according to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

Option #2: Egg Storage.
Egg storage holds promise in particular for female cancer patients who are facing infertility after chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, but may also be an option for women who wish to extend their childbearing years.

About 200 births from frozen eggs have been reported worldwide. Because of the low number of births, women should be aware that egg storage is an option more highly recommended for patients facing cancer or other surgeries who have fewer options. However, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine notes that there is potential for clinical application thanks to new egg freezing techniques such as vitrification, and egg retrieval and freezing is currently offered by a number of fertility clinics for both cancer patients and women wishing to preserve their fertility. “Frozen eggs may then be transferred to a long-term storage facility like XTS, and later thawed and fertilized by an infertility specialist using IVF or ICSI techniques,” said Beausejour.

Option #3: Ovarian Tissue Storage.
Breakthroughs in assisted reproductive techniques are also allowing women to save ovarian tissue. ASRM also continues to view ovarian tissue cryopreservation as experimental. However, fertility specialists can retrieve pieces of ovarian tissue, freeze them carefully and re-transplant them following cancer treatments. Children and teens who are cancer patients, as well as women who do not have time for egg retrieval prior to the start of chemotherapy or other treatments, may be candidates for ovarian tissue storage and retransplantation.

“Anyone interested in preserving their fertility should work closely with their fertility specialist to discuss the right option for them,” said Beausejour. But advances in freezing techniques have made more options available for women than ever before.

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