Fertility in Your 40s
From falling in love and getting married, to buying your first home, your
20s and 30s were filled with a lot of life lessons. And now as you enter
the next chapter of your life, you may soon find yourself facing a new
journey — growing your family.
Whether due to personal preference, financial stability, or a number of
other reasons, birth rates for women over 35 have been
steadily rising for more than 20 years. But having children later in life does present
some unique challenges — here’s all you need to know.
How Age Impacts Fertility
Age plays one of the most important roles when it comes to a woman’s
ability to conceive, carry, and give birth to a healthy baby. This is
because the body goes through so many changes as you continue to age.
And these changes include the quantity and quality of eggs being produced.
A woman’s peak reproductive age is throughout her 20s, which gradually
declines into the 30s. Once a woman hits her early-30s, her chances of
getting pregnant are about 20 percent. By age 40, a woman’s chance
of becoming pregnant is now
less than 5 percent during each cycle.
Risk Factors
Women in their 40s who are able to conceive are at a higher risk for certain
complications during their pregnancy. Some of these include:
- Miscarriage
- High blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia
There is also a higher risk for fetal development issues throughout pregnancy
when women give birth later in life. This can include:
- Birth defects
- Low birth weight
Fertility Options
While statistics and risk factors can be intimidating, it is important
for you to know that you still have options when it comes to conception
later in life! If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for more than
six months without success, it’s time to meet with a
fertility specialist for an evaluation. From there, your doctor will recommend which treatments
may be best for you in trying to conceive.
Reproductive Specialists in Atlanta
When it comes to your health, knowledge is power. In an increasingly digital
world, it’s easy to research your fertility questions or concerns
online. Unfortunately, not everything you may read is factual. So if you
have any questions about fertility as you age, our
Atlanta fertility specialists are here to help.