Trying to Get Pregnant After 35? Learn the Risks and Benefits of Pregnancy in Later Life

Not every couple decides to have children right away, and now that women have a strong presence in the work force, plenty of women are choosing to focus on a career before children. If you are trying to get pregnant after the age of 35, you may have been hearing reports on how difficult it is to achieve a pregnancy later in life and the health risks associated with such a pregnancy. While there are risks to getting pregnant after 35, there are some little known benefits that should be taken into consideration as well. Read on to explore both the benefits and drawbacks of starting your family later in life.

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Women Over 35 Have Increased Miscarriage Risks

A woman is born with all of the eggs that she will ever have in a lifetime, and these eggs are aging every day. The peak of fertility is between ages 16-27, so women who are past that age will have a decreased chance of becoming pregnant in any one cycle. They will also have an increased chance of abnormalities due to their older eggs. The risks also make it more likely that a woman will suffer from a miscarriage. While a woman of any childbearing age suffers a risk of losing a child to miscarriage, that risk is higher in older mothers.

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology:

-Women between the ages of 16-34 have a 15% chance of miscarriage in any given cycle

-Women between the ages of 35-45 have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage in any given cycle

-Women over 45 have a 50-65% chance of miscarriage in any given cycle

Older Mothers and Infertility

One of the main concerns of women who are planning to have babies after 35 is the risk of infertility. While a woman can become infertile at any age, for any number of reasons, the risks are higher for women over 35. A gradual decline in fertility starts when women are in their late twenties, and by the time they are 35, they have a less than 20 percent chance of conceiving naturally in any given month. Women have lost 90 percent of their eggs by 30, and by 40, nearly 97 percent of those eggs are gone forever. This can present a problem for a woman that wants to conceive naturally during mid-life.

There are a host of medical interventions that can make conception after 35 easier. These interventions include in-vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing and surrogacy. All of these options should be weighed when determining the best age to start a family. While the cost of freezing eggs can be high, it allows the woman to use her own viable eggs to get pregnant at a later time. It is worth mentioning, however, that the success rate for assisted reproductive therapy is higher for younger women.

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The Benefits of Getting Pregnant After 35

Despite the drawbacks of conceiving later in life, there are some advantages that are often overlooked. Mothers who are older when they conceive are more likely to have completed their education and have stable finances by the time the child is born. Older women are also more likely to be married or in stable relationships, and have a greater chance of getting much-needed prenatal care for their unborn babies. These benefits will provide a stable and safe environment for the baby to grow in both before and after they are born.

The Influence of a Stable Household

Studies have shown that children born to mothers who are over 35 ranked higher on intelligence tests than those of their younger counterparts. This research has shown that these children usually have a wider vocabulary and have actually scored higher on IQ tests. Children born to older parents often exhibit signs of enhanced problem solving and critical thinking due to their stronger educational foundation and learning environments. Also, since the rate of divorce declines in older couples, children born to older parents are less likely to see their parents split up before their 18th birthday.

Older Parents = More Well Adjusted Children

Older parents tend to be less selfish and more able to put the needs of their children first. In addition, older parents often have strong family ties and social supports that make raising a family easier. Sociologists tout other benefits of having children later in life. Children born to older parents are less likely to suffer abuse and neglect, as these babies are less likely to be born accidentally to parents who do not want them.

When it comes to planning a family after 35, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. While a mother’s advanced age can present health problems for both mother and baby during pregnancy, there are plenty of benefits to outweigh the risks. As with any major life decision, there are positive and negative outcomes—just remember that having children after 35 is still a viable option despite the risks.