Trying to Get Pregnant After 35
There are a lot of women out there today who are trying to conceive after age 35. This quest can be as joyous as it is filled with questions.
While there are challenges, however, many women successfully conceive in their thirties and forties.
What are the challenges to conception after age 35?
The most common cause of age-related fertility decline is a decrease in the frequency of ovulation. Over time, women begin to have cycles during which ovulation does not occur. There is also a decline in both egg quantity and quality in the thirties and forties. Other reasons for difficulty in conceiving after 35 include:
- Scar tissue around the cervix or fallopian tubes caused by past surgery or infection
- Decreased cervical fluid
- Chronic health problems (diabetes or high blood pressure are only two examples) that may have developed by the thirties or forties
Miscarriage also occurs more frequently in women over 35. This often results from an increased incidence in chromosomal abnormalities. There is a 20 to 30 percent chance of having a miscarriage in women between the ages of 35 and 45.
How can my chances of conception after 35 be increased?
Trying to get pregnant after age 35 can seem overwhelming. However, there are several things you can do to make conception easier. The following are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make a pre-conception appointment. Review your medical history, ovulation calendar, medications and lifestyle with your doctor. This is also an opportunity to address with your doctor any concerns you may have about conception and pregnancy after age 35.
- It takes longer for women over 35 to get pregnant. On average, it takes a couple over 35 one to two years to get pregnant. If you don’t conceive right away, try to stay positive.
- Women who are physically, mentally and emotionally fit are more likely to get pregnant. Alcohol, smoking and caffeine can have a negative impact on fertility. Also, being underweight or overweight can interfere with proper hormone function, thereby impacting fertility.
- You can learn a lot about your body by observing signs of fertility. Tracking your basal body temperature and cervical fluid can help you identify the best time for intercourse when trying to get pregnant. These same signs are also instrumental in knowing whether you are ovulating regularly. Getting to know your fertility can also help you recognize signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
- Consider an at-home fertility screening test. This is an over-the-counter test that screens for key elements of fertility, both male and female.
- If you still haven’t conceived after six months of purposeful intercourse, see your doctor. If you haven’t become pregnant in six months’ time, contact you doctor about the possibility of fertility testing. You might also decide to contact a fertility specialist at this point.
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