subject: How To Get Pregnant 35 And Older [print this page] Whether it is a later marriage in life, career paths or some other reason, the average age of couples starting families is getting older. Starting families in your 30s is becoming a commonplace. Although there are challenges that come with maturity and fertility, conceiving naturally is still possible for those even as old as 50. If you are in late 30s or beyond, this chapter will provide you with insights on what challenges you may face and steps you can take to increase your chances of conceiving.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF CONCEIVING OVER 35?
As you start to age, our muscles and other systems in the body start to become less efficient than they were in our 20s. The same is true for the fertility of both you and your spouse. The egg quality as well as quantity both decline with age. It is also possible that you may be experiencing sporadic ovulation as you get older. Skipping or missing ovulation reduces your fertility probabilities by removing opportunities to even try and conceive.
There are also health conditions that impact your conception efforts or ability to carry a baby to term. Although these conditions may be experienced by younger women, the likelihood of their presence is greater with women who are getting into their 30s or 40s. Here is a list of conditions that may create a challenge for your efforts to conceive:
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Less cervical fluid
High blood pressure or diabetes
Chromosomal abnormalities
If you have any of the above medical conditions, please consult your doctor before trying to conceive.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF CONCEIVING?
Getting pregnant at ages 35 and older is more likely for women who are in better health. As noted many times before, healthy conception is related to healthy you. Even if you have not made a habit of eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, it is not too late to start.
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GET TING PREGNANT 38
Getting your body in the best shape it can be in is one of the best ways you can invest in your fertility health. Where the average time for conception for women to conceive in their 20s is six months to a year, the average time for those in their 30s is between 1 to 2
years. Investing in your health all along the way is one of the best ways to increase your chances of conception.
Make sure that you are forgoing any lifestyle habits that can impede on your ability to conceive. This means avoiding alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, and caffeine. Be certain that you are getting the nutrients that you need including folic acid, calcium, and omega 3s. Zinc has been identified as a nutrient that is directly related to the fertility health of both you and your husband. In addition to eating well-balanced
nutritional meals, you both can take vitamin supplements to make sure you are getting what you need.
GET YOUR CHECKUPS!
Because age is directly related to the fertility health of both you and your partner, it is essential that you both get a physical exam to make sure that things are working correctly. It is even more important for those over 35 because of the increased likelihood that you could be experiencing conditions like endometriosis.
Some conditions can be treated and bring your body right back to a viable state for conceiving. However, you may discover that conceiving is not possible. It is much better to know this up front as opposed to experiencing months of stress and making unnecessary changes to your life.
Talk to your doctor knowing what your body is doing is a big step for conceiving in your 40s.
