Can You Get Pregnant Over 35?
Free Download: 6 Ways To Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant
More and more women are waiting to start their families while they focus on their career, wait until they are financially secure, or look for the right partner. The average age for first time mothers is on the rise, recently the median age rose to 30, but there are undoubtedly challenges that can go along with waiting to have a baby. We know that fertility drops significantly in a woman’s late 30’s and past 40 the numbers can look grim, but it is possible to get pregnant over 40. Let’s talk about what you need to know to increase your chances of success no matter your age.
Get an idea of your ovarian reserve
Women are born with a finite number of eggs and lose 90% of them around 30 years old. By 40 most women only have about 3% of their eggs left (*don’t panic - this is still tens of thousands of eggs), so it’s important to see a doctor for blood work. The baseline fertility blood panel includes anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels which reflect the quantity of eggs in reserve. Your clinic may also perform an ultrasound to get an idea of your antral follicle count. The AFC gives an idea of how many eggs are produced in a cycle and helps predict how a patient might respond to IVF stim meds.
Focus on the quality of your eggs
While you can’t control the quantity of eggs in reserve, efforts can be made to improve the quality of your eggs. Simple changes such as a fertility friendly diet, moderate exercise and stress reduction can contribute to egg health. Acupuncture treatments are also known to significantly increase egg quality and IVF success. Finally, start taking a prenatal vitamin if you aren’t already and talk to your doctor about recommended supplements that support egg health such as DHEA and CoQ10. Keep in mind these efforts could take several months to be beneficial, so begin as soon as possible while planning your next steps.
Related Read: 5 Ways You Can Improve Your Egg Quality
Consider a timeline
Are you ready to start your family right away? It might be helpful to talk with your partner about a plan or road map to building your family. For example, you might try naturally for a couple of cycles (make sure you are charting your cycle and using OPK’s to take advantage of your most fertile days). Then it might be time to move on to medicated cycles or straight to IUI/ IVF depending on your doctor’s recommendation. If, in an agreed amount of time based on your conversations, you haven’t had success you might want to start considering other options such as egg donation or embryo donation. Planning out your options in advance can give you a sense of control through the process. Remember, you are in charge and can always change the plan.
Know your options
For some women past their prime fertility years, the hard truth is that her own eggs may no be longer be an options for conception or it may not be safe for her to carry a child. This can be difficult to process but know there are other routes to parenthood. Egg donation, embryo donation, surrogacy/ gestational carriers, and adoption are all beautiful options, but you won’t know what is right for you until you educate yourself. Talk to your clinic about the options ahead of time so you are prepared if you decide to take any of these routes.
Related Read: Should You Consider Donor Egg IVF
Get support – Getting pregnant after 35 might not be simple but finding support can make the process easier to navigate. Your therapist, a fertility coach, or support group can offer guidance for your questions and concerns. A person or community who is there to listen when you are struggling can be validating through a difficult process.
Related Read: My Journey from Infertility to Motherhood
Looking for more information and solutions about getting pregnant and staying pregnant. Learn more about my private coaching package here or set up a free chat to discuss how I can provide you with the confidence and clarity you need to move forward toward building your family.
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