Pregnancy Beyond 35,Here’s What You Need To Know

Pregnancy after the age of 35 may be difficult.

Whether you’re trying to conceive after the age of 35, or you’re not yet there but thinking about it, here’s everything you need to know about getting pregnant after the age of 35.

If you want to have a child but are concerned about your chances as a ‘geriatric mother’ (the medical term for women pregnant at 35 or later).

Age is one of the primary characteristics that indicate your capacity to conceive.

At the age of 30, your fertility begins to fall, and it continues to decline steadily until you reach menopause.

That is not to say that it is impossible to have a healthy baby after the age of 35; in fact, it is quite common.

If we look at your chances of getting pregnant in terms of numbers, you’re at your peak fertility in your twenties.

Healthy women of that age who are trying to conceive have a one-in-four chance of becoming pregnant in a single menstrual cycle.

In other words, 25 women out of 100 will succeed each month.

However, by the age of 40, an average healthy woman has only a 5% chance of becoming pregnant per cycle.

Furthermore, a typical 40-year-old has a 40% chance of losing the pregnancy. This compares to less than 15% for someone in her twenties.

However, if you want to understand why getting pregnant after the age of 35 is more difficult, learn about the various pregnancy risks after the age of 35, and discover your true chances of pregnancy success, keep reading this informative piece; we’ve got everything you need to know.

Challenges

Less frequent ovulation is the most common cause of age-related fertility decline. As women get older, they start to have cycles where no egg is released.

In her 30s and 40s, a woman’s egg quality and quantity both decrease.

While there is no way to increase the total number of eggs produced, research has shown that egg quality can be improved.

Myo-inositol, folic acid, and melatonin supplements have been shown to improve egg quality and ovarian function.

Other factors that may make conceiving after the age of 35 more difficult include:

  • Infection or surgery that caused scar tissue around the fallopian tubes or cervix
  • Endometriosis
  • Fibroids or uterine disorders
  • A decrease in cervical fluid
  • Chronic health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes
  • Pregnant women older than 40 years have an increased risk of preeclampsia. Some of the increase in risk may be because older women tend to have more health problems before they get pregnant than younger women.
  • Having high blood pressure, a condition that becomes more common with age, can increase the risk of preeclampsia. Studies also show that older women who do not have any health conditions still can have complicated pregnancies.

Women over the age of 35 are at a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.

In addition, older women are more likely than younger women to have multiple pregnancies.

The ovaries are more likely to release more than one egg per month as they get older.

What Can You Do If You’re 35 Years Old To Ensure A Healthy Pregnancy?

Prior To Pregnancy

  • Get a pre-pregnancy checkup. This is a medical checkup to ensure your health before becoming pregnant.
  • Seek treatment for any medical conditions you may have, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or depression. Make sure your doctor is aware of any medications you are taking for these conditions. You may need to switch to a safer medication while pregnant.
  • Every day, take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid. Folic acid is a vitamin that is required by every cell in your body for proper growth and development.
  • Get into a healthy weight range. If you are overweight (weigh too much) or underweight during your pregnancy, you are more likely to have health problems (weigh too little).
  • Reduce your stress levels.

Throughout the pregnancy

  • Even if you’re feeling fine, go to all of your prenatal care check-ups. Regular prenatal care allows your provider to monitor you and your developing baby.
  • Maintain your medical treatment for any medical conditions you may have. During pregnancy, you may need to switch to a medication that is safer for your baby.

What can you do if you aren’t ready to start a family right now?

There is currently no medical technique that guarantees fertility will be preserved.

If you know you want to have children later in life, in vitro fertilization may be an option (IVF). In IVF, sperm is combined in a laboratory with a woman’s eggs.

Embryos may develop if the sperm fertilizes the eggs. Embryos can be frozen and used for many years.

When you are ready, an embryo can be transferred to your uterus in order to try to conceive.