Get Pregnant in Your 40’s

“How to Maximize Your Fertility if You are in Your 40’s”

By age 40, you have a 5 percent chance of conceiving each month and that rate drops quickly as you approach 50. At the age of 40, half of the eggs a woman produces are chromosomally abnormal. There can also be metabolic changes in the eggs that reduce their quality. However, it’s still possible to conceive the old- fashioned way, but make sure you are doing everything you can to maximize your chances.

Mother’s Fertility History - Need to Know
There has been a study that has shown the older your mom was when she conceived you, the higher your risk may be for fertility problems. 74 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were examined and found that those who weren’t able to get pregnant were conceived an average of 20 years before their mothers entered menopause, versus on average more than 25 years earlier for their fertile counterparts. A possible explanation given is that genetic abnormalities in the mothers’ older eggs may have been passed to the daughters. These findings may also apply to women not being treated for infertility.

Find Out When Your Mother Entered Menopause
You’re likely to follow suit, so if your mother’s periods stopped in her late forties, you may want to put your pregnancy plans on a fast track.

Get Screened - Conditions That Could Threaten Your Pregnancy
Silent diabetes is more likely for women in their forties than younger women. Also, developing diabetes during pregnancy is more likely for a woman in her 40’s. Diabetes increases the chance of having a large baby and difficulties during childbirth. A blood test can determine your blood sugar level. The good news is that if blood glucose is controlled before pregnancy, women with diabetes are almost as likely as non-diabetic women to have a healthy baby. Get your blood pressure checked as well. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause pregnancy complications.

Avoid Most Sexual Lubricants
Most lubricants make it harder for sperm to swim and may even kill them. If you need lubricants for intercourse to be comfortable, be sure you use one that is sperm-friendly.

Don’t Smoke
In addition to its effects on ovulation, tobacco use causes earlier menopause and makes IVF less likely to succeed.

Alternative Treatments
The jury is out on the effectiveness of herbs, nutritional supplements, and acupuncture in boosting fertility. However, the older you are, the more your body can use all the help it can get to maintain a healthy state. You may want to consider trying something like Ovulex.

De-stress
Very high levels of stress can prevent or delay ovulation and reduce sperm production in men. And because infertility and infertility treatments are inherently stressful, doctors often encourage patients to practice yoga, meditation, or relaxation exercises.

When to Seek Help
If you haven’t conceived in three to six months, see a fertility specialist.