Many women delay pregnancy because of career goals, relationship struggles, or personal reasons. They plan to have a family in their mid or late 30s. While many conceive naturally and deliver healthy babies in their 30s and even at the age of 35, there’s a common misconception that the age of 35 means a sudden decline in fertility.
The good news? That’s not the case for all. According to a gynecologist in Navi Mumbai, the egg count and quality decline with advancing age, but the change is often gradual.
Women’s Fertility after 35: Risks
Advancing age can affect a woman’s fertility in many ways.
- Decline in Ovarian Reserve: A female baby is born with a fixed ovarian reserve. With age, the number of eggs starts declining. Besides, the egg quality also drops with age. A large number of available eggs may have chromosomal abnormalities, which cannot result in a healthy pregnancy even if they are fertilized.
- Chromosomal Defects: The risk of chromosomal defects in the baby, such as Down Syndrome, increases with maternal age. Prenatal genetic screening can help detect chromosomal issues early in pregnancy.
- Gestational Diabetes: Women conceiving at an older age are at an increased risk of gestational diabetes, a condition marked by elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Poorly controlled diabetes may present health risks for the mother and the baby.
- Pre-eclampsia: Pregnancy in advanced age is also linked to an increased risk of pre-eclampsia. It is a pregnancy-related high-blood-pressure disorder that mostly occurs after 20 weeks of gestation.
- Cesarean Delivery: The increased risk of maternal or fetal complications in women over 35 can make a C-section a safer birth option, although many older age women deliver vaginally without complications.
Improve Your Odds of Getting Pregnant After 35
A decline in egg quantity and quality is an irreversible change, but healthy lifestyle modifications can help improve your reproductive health. Here’s what you must do.
1. Know Your Fertile Window
A woman’s fertile window is the days leading up to ovulation. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, you may be able to keep track of your ovulation. Having sexual intercourse every 1-2 days during this time can maximize the chances of conception.
2. Start Folic Acid
Do not wait for a positive pregnancy test to start folic acid. A woman planning a pregnancy requires 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Start the prescribed folic acid supplements before pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the baby.
3. A Healthy Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle may not directly address your existing fertility concerns, but it can support your overall reproductive health. A few changes in your lifestyle, such as swapping junk for healthy meals, practicing moderate physical activity every day, and getting adequate sleep, can do wonders for your health.
Trying for over 6 months without success warrants a visit to the pregnancy hospital in Navi Mumbai. The above tips can help, but a routine prenatal checkup is still important to address underlying fertility issues.
