Are you looking for a pregnancy and you wonder if the reproductive age could be a problem to achieve the desired positive?
You should never give categorical answers to anything, but ... Yes, a woman's age can affect female fertility. (and the masculine, although this is not talked about so much). That is why we talk about the concept of the fertile age of women, especially when we seek to be a mother naturally after 35 years, even though we are still young in today's society and can be mothers after 35 or 40 without any complications. medical of any kind.
Social changes and female fertility
Currently, it is increasingly common to seek pregnancy after thirty. Today's society and the pace of life that most women lead, makes thinking of a pregnancy before 30 may seem like a utopia for many women, even though it is our quintessential fertile age with the best ovarian reserve results directly related to the woman's fertility.
The current reality is that the average age of first pregnancy in Spain is 31,6 years, while in 1980 it was 25 years and assisted reproduction cycles are increasing more and more in which the cause is a low ovarian reserve as far as fertility of women is concerned.
What has changed in these almost 40 years? Has been social changes, the entry of women into the labor market and difficult salary and work-life conditions for them to consider getting pregnant before the age of 30. This has led most couples to delay having children, and this average age of women at first pregnancy has increased. Not only this, but in 2016, more than 30% of births were to mothers aged 35 or older, and almost 7% to women aged 40 or older, which is when they declare that they are socially prepared to being a mother (Source: Spain Report 2018, Fundación Encuentro).
And then, what is the best age to get pregnant?
This question has different answers depending on who answers it. If it comes up between friends, you will receive a response similar to the following. "From the age of 30 or 32, when you already have a stable life: a permanent and minimally well-paid job, you have already left the shared flat with students, and your head is well settled."
If the person who answers this question is a specialist in gynecology, obstetrics or embryology, they will tell you something very different. The best "biological" age to get pregnant is 25 years old. Some will even give you some hope, and will tell you that up to 30 years It is a good age, especially if there are healthy and regular menstrual cycles.
And what if the biology doesn't match the personal circumstances? What margin is there to get pregnant naturally? What options does reproductive medicine provide?
The (long?) Fertile life of women
Nowadays it is difficult to square biology with social circumstances. It seems that the biological clock does not always coincide with the vital aspirations of today's couples (traveling and enjoying life) and working conditions.
It is considered that the woman begins her reproductive life (we speak at the biological level) with the first ovulation and menstruation (on average, at 12 years of age). And the end of this fertile life is usually considered the arrival of menopause (on average, at 51 years). But beware, in general, the reproductive potential decreases as women age and fertility normally ends between five and ten years before menopause.
This leaves a window of about 30-35 years. These are usually the woman's fertile years when she is socially able to have children and when the ovarian reserve is not compromised. Likewise, there always has to be general health and healthy menstrual cycles. Keep your gynecological reviews up to date.
It is estimated that around 45 years old, it is highly unlikely to achieve a successful pregnancy, even through fertility treatment getting pregnant with your own eggs is very difficult because there is less quantity and also a lot less quality. (link oocyte quality) And an increase in complications in embryonic development such as Down syndrome, strongly related to the reproductive fertile age of women.
What we have to be clear about is that from the age of 30 fertility decreases and from the age of 35 fertility decreases even more and knowing this, you can organize yourself better whether you are looking for natural or if you want preserve your fertility or have clear expectations when we go to an assisted reproduction cycle.
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What fertility statistics say about age
Under normal conditions, a woman can get pregnant after a year of unprotected sex in 75% of cases. When we talk about a 35-year-old woman, the figures already decrease to 66% (always bearing in mind that there has been a year of unprotected relationships). Once the 40-year-old barrier has been crossed, the probability of pregnancy after one year of trying decreases to 44%.
In fact, the average number of couples who go to assisted reproduction centers or fertility centers is around 37 years old. Similarly, it is always good to control your ovarian reserve regardless of age by asking your trusted gynecologist for check-ups.
How to get pregnant if you are over 35 years old?
First of all, don't panic. Statistics are just that, statistics. They should be taken into account, but pregnancy is still possible. To do this, you will have to take care of yourself (and be taken care of) a lot and take into account some key points:
The pregnancy may take a little longer.
Ovarian reserves decrease with age, so you may not ovulate for a month, and there is no possibility of pregnancy, and the eggs are a little more difficult to fertilize. If it takes more than 6 months to conceive, consider a visit to the specialist.
The chances of a multiple pregnancy are higher.
Precisely because ovarian reserves begin to decrease, there are some hormonal changes that can cause you to release two eggs in a month. If both are fertilized ... voilà, multiple pregnancy.
Your lifestyle is important.
Precisely because age does not make it easy, it is interesting that you try to promote pregnancy with everything that is in your power. Exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and start taking Prenatal vitamins to promote pregnancy.
Take care of yourself naturally
Try to avoid ingredients that are harmful, or not proven to be safe, as much as possible. Many cleaning products, and even everyday products such as shampoos, deodorants, and cosmetics include phthalates, parabens, and other substances that can be endocrine disruptors and affect reproductive capacity. So try to be as natural as possible.
Other factors influencing female fertility apart from age
We have seen the importance of age to achieve pregnancy, and some points to keep in mind when you are over 35 years old. But there are other factors that can influence (and greatly) fertility. Risk factors that make pregnancy difficult are being smokers (both mother and father), being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, abusing alcohol or other substances, and being in contact with toxic chemicals or endocrine disruptors, among others.
Remember to take good care of yourself and have a global vision of the search for pregnancy: nutrition, psychology, non-toxic care and everything that can help you conceive is welcome. And if you wonder what is the ideal age for a woman to get pregnant, the answer is when you can and feel that it is your moment, trying to enhance your biology and menstrual cycle and respecting your times to be able to be mothers and enjoy this moment.
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