How To Get Pregnant After 35

What Is A Pre

A pre-pregnancy checkup is a medical checkup you get before pregnancy. It helps your health care provider make sure youre healthy and that your body is ready for pregnancy. The checkup helps your provider treat and sometimes prevent health conditions that may affect your pregnancy. For example, your provider checks to make sure your vaccinations are up to date and gives you any you need before pregnancy.

If you can, get your pre-pregnancy checkup with the health care provider you want to take care of you when you do get pregnant. You can get a pre-pregnancy checkup any time. Get one even if youve already had a baby. Your health may have changed since you were last pregnant.

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Day : Gather Family Medical History

Your babys health will also be influenced by genetic factors that have roots in your family tree. Before you get pregnant, you may want to ask your parents or other relatives if there are any genetic conditions that run in your bloodline. The same goes for your partner.

Uncover something? You can make an appointment with a genetic counselor to discuss your concerns and get further testing.

How Ovia Can Help

Once youre over 35, its very important to track your data to zero in on your fertile windows, as they may simply be less frequent. Ovia can help you track your ovulations for as many cycles as you need until you find the window that works! Some studies suggest that as many as 90% of females over 35 are able to conceive. It just might take some time.

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Dietary Modifications For Improving The Odds Of Conception After 35

In a previous article, Improving Fertility After 35: Five Easy Tips, we discussed simple but effective things women of advanced maternal age can do to improve their chances of getting pregnant. This article expands on this discussion by looking at research-backed dietary modifications women can make to improve their egg quality and reproductive health.

Its Not Just Fertility

When we talk about the difficulty of getting pregnant over the age of 35, its important to remember that its not just about conception rates.

The older you are, the higher your chances of miscarriage or stillbirth.

The risk of a baby with serious birth defects, which might lead you to consider an abortion, also rises over the age of 35. According to one study, 10% of pregnancies end in miscarriage for women in their early 20s, but that rises to 18% for women over 35, and 34% for women in their early 40s.

That means that you have a 40% risk of losing your baby when youre 40, but only a 15% risk when youre in your 20s. This is mainly because as you age, the quality of your eggs drops as well as the quantity. With a drop in egg quality comes a higher risk that a fertilized egg wont divide correctly, leading to chromosomal defects.

Woman thinking fertility after 35

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Getting Pregnant After 35 What You Need To Know

Health experts have noted an increasing trend in women older than 35 becoming mothers for the first time.

From their early years, women are told their fertility declines abruptly at the age of 35.

Theyre advised they shouldnt wait too long to become pregnant, in case they miss the magic window of fertility.

Just how hard is it to become pregnant, aged 35 and beyond? Lets look at some facts

How Does Age Affect Pregnancy

No matter your age, getting pregnant is a matter of chance. While it could be more difficult to conceive after the age of 35, theres still plenty you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Also keep in mind that there are age-related factors to be aware of that might affect you once you become pregnant, including:

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Fertility In The Aging Male

Unlike the early fertility decline seen in women, a mans decrease in sperm characteristics occurs much later. Sperm quality deteriorates somewhat as men get older, but it generally does not become a problem before a man is in his 60s. Though not as abrupt or noticeable as the changes in women, changes in fertility and sexual functioning do occur in men as they grow older. Despite these changes, there is no maximum age at which a man cannot father a child, as evidenced by men in their 60s and 70s conceiving with younger partners. As men age, their testes tend to get smaller and softer, and sperm morphology and motility tend to decline. In addition, there is a slightly higher risk of gene defects in their sperm. Aging men may develop medical illnesses that adversely affect their sexual and reproductive function. Not all men experience significant changes in reproductive or sexual functioning as they age, especially men who maintain good health over the years. If a man does have problems with libido or erections, he should seek treatment through his primary care provider and/or urologist. Decreased libido may be related to low levels of testosterone.

How Is Infertility Defined

Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant after one year of unprotected sex for women under 35 and six months for women 35 and older.

The vast majority of people will become pregnant within the first 12 months of trying to conceive with regular unprotected intercourse, says Cross. After six months to a year of trying depending on a womans age we recommend that a couple comes in for an infertility evaluation. At that point, its more likely that theres a problem preventing pregnancy.

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Monitor Your Blood Pressure

If you already have high blood pressure, or if you experienced high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy, its important to do everything you can to manage it before you get pregnant. Youve heard it before, but it bears repeating: your diet can be a major factor in managing high blood pressure. TheDASH eating plan includes 4-5 servings each of fruits and vegetables, 2-3 servings of low-fat or nonfat dairy, 6-8 servings of whole grains, small amounts of lean protein, and no more than 2,300 mg sodium daily plus no more than 5 servings of sweetsper week.

Despite their best efforts, some healthy women still have high blood pressure when pregnant, especially those over 35 years old. High blood pressure occurs in up to15% of all pregnancies, and, sadly, it can contribute significantly to infant and maternal mortality.

Although blood pressure may appear normal or even a bit low in the early weeks of pregnancy, this is due toactive vasodilatationthat occurs during these early weeks. Be sure to have your healthcare provider take your blood pressure regularly during pregnancy.

You may require medication to manage your blood pressure while pregnant. This is not a sign of failure on your part, and you should follow your healthcare practitioners advice regarding treatment.

Advanced Maternal Age And Fertility

You may be wondering why age plays such an important role in your fertility.

Believe it or not, if you are trying to get pregnant over the age of 35, you are considered advanced maternal age. Because many women are delaying pregnancy until well into their thirties, this can be a hard truth to accept.

It is, however, an important truth to understand. Age and fertility are directly linked. There are two main fertility factors to consider: egg quantity and egg quality. They both follow a similar pattern, naturally decreasing with age.

There is little you can do about your age.Time keeps marching on!But heres the good news:

You canbegin to make healthy choicesto prepare your body for pregnancy. Doing so may help support a healthy pregnancy well into your mid-thirties and beyond.

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Throwing The Dice After 40

My husband and I felt time working against us in our hope for a second child. Ursula passed her third birthday without a sibling. Wanting to avoid interventions such as in vitro fertilization, but recognizing that my fertility was surely waning, we gave ourselves until the end of 2001 to get pregnant.

For women over 40, the reproductive die has largely been cast. Genetics plays a heavy-handed role in the ability of a woman over 40 to become pregnant. If her eggs, which have been in her body since before her birth, remain viable in sufficient numbers, she should be able to become pregnant. If she does not have enough “ovarian reserve,” she will not become pregnant without egg donation.

In a clinical report issued in January 2002, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine advised doctors to screen women over 35 for ovarian reserve. Typically, this is done by measuring serum basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol, two of the so-called pregnancy hormones. Subtle changes in levels of these hormones are associated with a reduced ability to conceiveand, not surprisingly, also are associated with perimenopause, when a woman’s hormone levels shift away from reproduction.

At some point, older women may find themselves confronted with assisted reproductive technology’s poor success ratesa 43-year-old woman using ART has a 3 percent chance of delivering a baby and the knowledge that time is running out.

Aim For A Healthy Weight

Weight is one of the most influential factors when it comes to fertility for men and women. In fact, being either underweight or overweight is associated with increased infertility.

This is because the amount of fat stored in your body influences menstrual function. Having obesity especially is associated with lack of ovulation and menstrual irregularity but also with impaired egg development.

To improve your chances of getting pregnant, work with your healthcare provider to try to lose weight if youre overweight and gain weight if youre underweight. They can help you do it in a healthy and sustainable way.

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How To Get Pregnant Over 40

This article was co-authored by Carrie Noriega, MD. Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in womens health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 2005.There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 60,946 times.

It used to be fairly uncommon for women over the age of 40 to have children, but many women are now delaying pregnancy to finish their educations or get established in their careers.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source Although it can be more difficult to conceive after 40, it is still possible to get pregnant. Try conceiving naturally and then consider fertility treatments if you have any difficulty getting pregnant.

Is 37 Too Old To Get Pregnant

At 37, youre down to just 25,000 or 2.5% of your starting count. That matters because the fewer eggs in your ovaries, the lower your odds for conception. Even if you do get pregnant, your older eggs are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes, which may raise your chance of miscarrying your baby.

Is 38 too old to have a baby?

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Eat Foods Rich In Antioxidants

Antioxidants like folate and zinc may improve fertility for both men and women. They deactivate the free radicals in your body, which can damage both sperm and egg cells.

One 2012 study of young, adult men found that eating 75 grams of antioxidant-rich walnuts per day improved sperm quality.

A study of 232 women showed that higher folate intake was associated with higher rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth.

The jury is still out on how much antioxidants will or wont affect fertility, but theres evidence pointing to the potential.

Foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains are packed full of beneficial antioxidants like vitamins C and E, folate, beta carotene, and lutein. Eating more of these healthy foods shouldnt hurt in the effort.

Is No Magic Number

Its impossible to draw a line in time and say that after this date, your fertility plummets. Instead, what happens is that your fertility begins to drop gradually from your late 20s. The rate of decline speeds up once you get to 32, and then it speeds up again at about age 37.

Here are some statistics to explain things more clearly. One large study looked at pregnancy rates for women if they have sexual intercourse on their most fertile day. It found that:

• Women aged 19-26 years had an over 50% chance of conceiving
• Women aged 27-34 have a rate of just below 40%
• Women aged 35-39 have under a 30% chance of getting pregnant, almost half the rate of women aged 19-26.

To put it another away, you have a 25% chance of conceiving each month when youre in your 20s, but only a 5% chance each month when youre in your 40s.

That doesnt mean its impossible, only that its less likely.

Another way of calculating fertility is by tracking how long it takes for a woman to conceive and give birth. Using this method, it was estimated that:

• 75% of 30 year-old women conceive within 1 year, and 91% within 4 years.
• 66% of 35-year-old women conceive within 1 year, and 84% within 4 years.
• Only 44% of 40-year-old women conceive within 1 year, and just 64% within 4 years.

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Why Its More Difficult To Get Pregnant After 35

Although everyone is different, statistics say that females over 35 will have a more difficult time getting pregnant than they would at a younger age. This is mostly due to a lowered egg quality, after years of those eggs lying in wait in your ovaries. Because some of your eggs are resistant to fertilization as you get older, if youre TTC its important to make sure you dont miss those ovulations in which you do release a healthy egg.

What To Do About It

Sometimes lack of adequate sleep is due to habitsome people are just night owls and prefer to relax, enjoy alone time, or engage their creative juices later at night. Other times, insomnia or another sleep disorder is to blameor circumstances such as shift work.

If you are thinking about trying to conceive, identifying the cause of your lack of sufficient sleep is a good place to start. Once you know what is keeping you from good sleep, it will be easier to create a plan to address it. For better sleep hygiene:

• Stick to a set sleep and wake schedule.
• Follow a nightly bedtime routine.
• Get adequate daylight exposure and physical activity.
• Keep electronics like TVs, phones, and laptops out of the bedroom.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals before bed.
• Make your bedroom a serene space for sleeping.

Sleep disorders, including insomnia, may be caused by medications or underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, depression, and anxiety. So it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor to address sleep issues.

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Getting Pregnant After 3: How To Increase Your Chances

If you are 35 or over, you might wonder if you will struggle to conceive a baby. While it is true that your ovarian reserve may have reduced now you have entered your mid-thirties, you will be pleased to learn that you can still get pregnant if you are over 35 or 40.

While you might not be as fertile as you were at the age of 20, it is still possible to welcome a child into the world. Find out how you can increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Track Your Ovulation

Many couples struggle to get pregnant because they attempt to conceive at the wrong time of the month. Boost your likelihood of getting pregnant after 35 by tracking your ovulation cycle, which is when your ovaries release an egg. There are often a few days during a womans menstrual cycle when they can become pregnant, and the fertile days will vary each month. However, sperm can survive inside the body for up to five days, which can increase your fertility window to six days.

Book a Preconception Assessment

It is natural to feel concerned about your fertility once you reach your mid-thirties. As mentioned, your number of viable eggs may have reduced with age. Plus, contrary to popular belief, male fertility will decline with age, especially after the age of 40.

Make Lifestyle Changes

It doesnt matter if you are 20 or 40 years old you can boost your chances of getting pregnant by making various lifestyle changes, such as:

• Quitting smoking

Natural Ways To Get Pregnant After 35

When I was 35, unmarried but still hoping for children someday, I asked my doctor if I should be concerned about my chances of getting pregnant as I got older. Not at all, he assured me: Women are having children into their 40s nowadays. You have plenty of time, he said.

That was more than 10 years ago, just as a boom in “late-timing” motherhood began. Birthrates for U.S. women in their 30sand 40s and 50shave increased dramatically since then.

Celebrity culture has kept pace featuring pictures of 40-plus actresses, such as Geena Davis and Madonna, cuddling their newborns. The news isn’t that middle-aged women are having childrenmore women had children after 40 in the 1960s. But few of those women were having their first child. For reasons that aren’t clear, it is far easier to have your third, or eighth, child after 40 than your first. The real news is that so many women are now having their first child late in life.

My doctor wasn’t incorrect in his early ’90s optimism about later first-time pregnancyit does happen more these days. At the same time, the truth is that more older would-be moms are having trouble getting pregnant, more are resorting to expensive, lengthy infertility treatments, and many are eventually discovering that they will not bear their own children after all.

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