Everyone knows that age is just a number, but there are certain instances in life where age inevitably plays a factor. One of those instances involves pregnancy. Although there is a considerable time frame when a woman can become pregnant, it may become more challenging as we get older.
In today’s world, it is not uncommon for women to focus on their education and career in their twenties and thirties, pushing pregnancy down on their list of priorities. It is also not unusual for women to have a second or third child in their late thirties or early forties. Either way, there has been a rise in “older pregnancies.”
If you want to have a baby but can hear your biological clock ticking, it might be time to learn the best tips on how to get pregnant after 40…fast! Today, we will discuss fertility tips and possible treatments that may help women over forty conceive.
Average Age of First Time Mothers: Then vs. Now
They say that forty is the new thirty, and while that might be true in many ways, this may not be the case when it comes to getting pregnant. There has been a significant shift in the average age of first-time mothers as priorities and lifestyles of women have evolved.
In the 1970s, the average age of new moms in the United States was 21; today, that number has jumped to 26, according to the National Center For Health Statistics. The average age for first-time fathers has also increased from 27 to 31. Although those numbers represent first-time parents in America, the average age of first-time mothers has grown throughout the rest of the world as well, most likely for the same reasons (job, school, stability, financial preparedness, etc.)
Pregnancy After 40
So back to the main question, is it possible to become pregnant after 40? Yes! It is, and although fertility rates may decrease, it is still possible to become pregnant naturally. Fertility typically peaks for women around the age of 25 or 26 (mid-twenties). During this time, their chances of getting pregnant during a menstrual cycle (ovulation) are 25%. Although it is still possible for conception as we get older, the chances of getting pregnant for women over 40 drop to about 5% (per cycle).
Lower fertility rates result from a decline in the number of eggs a woman has. In case you didn’t know, women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have, and as we get older, there are fewer eggs inside the ovaries. With that being said, most women at 40 still have plenty of eggs available for fertilization; it may require more effort than it would if you were 25. Age is not always the sole cause of lower fertility rates. In fact, women in their forties may have to deal with other obstacles, including medications or conditions that may complicate pregnancies, such as obesity, endometriosis, diabetes, fibroids, or high blood pressure (to name a few). In the next section, we will go over fertility tips on how to get pregnant after 40 fast!
How To Get Pregnant After 40 (Fast & Naturally)
Making healthy lifestyle options is always a good idea, but it may actually improve your chances of getting pregnant in your forties. Small changes can have big results when it comes to your overall health. Obesity can cause fertility problems because higher amounts of body fat may increase estrogen levels, so changing diet and exercise routines may help to improve one's chances of conceiving. Here are some other tips that may increase pregnancy odds after 40:
- Eat healthier foods
- Have more intercourse
- Incorporate daily vitamins & supplements (prenatal, vitamin D, folic acid, CoQ10)
- Cut out alcohol
- Abstain from smoking
- Reduce stress (yoga, meditation)
If fertility is still unsuccessful after six months of trying to become pregnant naturally, women may want to consider talking with a fertility specialist to discuss possible treatment options. Only your reproductive endocrinologist will be able to suggest the best treatment option, but some of the treatment options that may be discussed are:
- Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Donor Egg IVF
Are There Any Risks To Getting Pregnant After 40
Another common concern for pregnancy after 40 involves risk factors and the health & safety of the baby. The good news is that most women who become pregnant in their late thirties or early forties can do so safely, but does that mean there is no risk involved. As the maternal age increases, studies have shown that the chances of miscarriage or birth defects in newborns also increase.
So if you do become pregnant 40, there are several precautions you can take to ensure your baby's health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout pregnancy and having a solid birth plan in place are great places to start. One option you may want to consider during pregnancy is storing your baby’s cord blood or cord tissue with a family stem cell bank. Cord blood banking is the process of collecting the umbilical cord blood and extracting its stem cells. Once the stem cells have been extracted, they are cryogenically frozen for potential future medical use for your child (and family).
Learning how to get pregnant after 40 fast may require more effort and time than you might think, but it is possible!
*For informational purposes only. Not intended for medical purposes or medical advice.