What is the chance of getting pregnant after 35 years. Pregnancy and age. Does age affect conception? Positive aspects of mature pregnancy

Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 07:22

How does age affect conception? What is the best age for pregnancy? What is more important - the age of a woman or a man? Does age affect the chances of getting pregnant: is it possible to get pregnant after 35 and what is the probability after 40?

Every woman's ovaries contain between 1 and 2 million ovarian follicles. They have been there since birth. With each cycle, one or more eggs from this huge supply mature and become ready for fertilization.

By the time of the first cycle, the supply of eggs is depleted to 300 thousand. Assuming that a woman ovulates about 500 times between the ages of 12 and 52, and assuming that not all of these eggs turn out to be healthy, we are left with a limited number of viable eggs that can be fertilized. At the same time, the processes of maturation of eggs take place differently in different periods of a woman's life. Therefore, the fact that age affects conception does not require proof for a long time.

How strongly are pregnancy and a woman's age related? What is the best age for pregnancy? Is it possible to get pregnant after 35 years and what are the chances of a woman to conceive a healthy child at every stage of life? Does the age of a man matter for conception?

In this article, we will try to answer these and other questions and consider the features that the process of conception involves for women of different ages.

20-24 years old

According to many doctors, the period from 20 to 24 years is the best age for pregnancy. At 20-25 years old, 90% of the eggs are genetically normal, which increases the chances of conceiving a healthy child. With a regular sexual life, the probability of conceiving a child within a year in women at this age is 96%.

However, young people tend to be less responsible than older couples when it comes to getting pregnant and preparing for conception, and often ignore the risk factors that can lead to complications during pregnancy and harm the baby's health. Stress, bad habits, malnutrition, lack of vitamins, untimely examination - all this can adversely affect the course of pregnancy and endanger the life and health of the unborn child.

In particular, the lack of a number of vitamins and antioxidants in the mother's body significantly increases the risk of preeclampsia (late toxicosis) and leads to a delay in the intrauterine development of the child.

25-29 years old

At this age, the chances of getting pregnant after a year of sexual activity are 86%. The chance of a pregnancy being terminated by a miscarriage is no more than 10%, which is only slightly higher than for younger couples.

Of course, it is necessary to carefully prepare for pregnancy, monitor weight and diet, and avoid stress. However, if you are under 30 years old, you do not need to seek help from a reproductive specialist until 12 months have passed from the start of active attempts to conceive a child.

30-34 years old

Until the age of 35, the chances of conceiving within a year are still high - they reach 86%. However, the chance of miscarriage after 30 years increases to 20%. In addition, after the age of 30, many women already develop chronic diseases that can affect the course of pregnancy.

Therefore, a future mother at the age of 30-34 should take a more careful approach to preparing for conception: visit the attending physician and consult with him about how chronic diseases can affect the course of pregnancy, eliminate problems with teeth (if any), normalize weight and diet, take special complexes for those who are planning a pregnancy. At this age, it is worth contacting a reproductive specialist if pregnancy has not occurred after 9 months of open sexual activity.

35-39 years old

Statistics show that female fertility begins to decline rapidly after the age of 35. Therefore, the question “is it possible to get pregnant after 35 years?” worries many women today. At the same time, many women today give birth to their first child later than doctors recommend. This is explained by the desire to solve numerous life problems (get an education and make a good career, acquire housing, achieve a consistently high income, test the fidelity of a spouse and the strength of a family union), and only then have a child, even if it will be more difficult than in 20 years.

In fact, the chances of getting pregnant after 35 are not so small. The chance of conception within a month for most women in this age group is 15-20%. And this, in turn, means that within a year the chances of getting pregnant after the age of 35 are 78%.

By the way, in women over 35, the likelihood of conceiving twins increases. The nature of this phenomenon is not fully understood.

However, after 35, female fertility begins to noticeably decrease. The main reason for this is the growth of chromosomal defects, which, in turn, affect the viability of the eggs. After 35 years, the risk of miscarriage, complications during pregnancy is higher, the probability of having a child with Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities is relatively high.

In fairness, it should be noted that, according to statistics, most children with Down syndrome are born to mothers under 35 years old. This is probably due to the fact that women of mature age are more responsible about their health and pay attention to perinatal diagnostics, which can be used to identify a fetus with abnormalities in the early stages of pregnancy.

One of the reasons for the manifestation of chromosomal defects is the growth of free radicals in the body and the associated oxidative stress caused by a constant excess of free radicals in the body.

Sex cells and their genetic material, DNA, are especially sensitive to oxidative stress.

The older the woman, the more free radicals accumulate in her body and the greater the oxidative stress. This explains the increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities in children born to women of mature age.

The development of diseases such as endometriosis, polycystic disease, inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, mastopathy, etc. is also associated with excessive activity of free radicals.

Antioxidants can help fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in the body. If we talk about the reproductive system, then substances such as vitamins E and C, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, rutin and lycopene are especially important for maintaining its health. All these antioxidants are contained in the Synergin complex.

Vitamin E is involved in the production of sex hormones, regulates the menstrual cycle and increases the likelihood of conception. It has been proven that the use of vitamin E in the complex treatment of infertility increases the chances of pregnancy. Also, this vitamin contributes to the normal course of pregnancy and prevents the development of mastopathy.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases the chances of getting pregnant during intercourse, so it is especially important for the reproductive system. Also, vitamin C performs the functions of protecting the main molecules of the body from damage by free radicals, stimulates the immune system and the body's resistance to viruses. Beta-carotene is effective in the treatment of infertility and mastopathy. Deficiency of beta-carotene can lead to miscarriage and pregnancy failure.

Coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone (from Latin - "ubiquitous") is found in all organs and tissues. Unlike other antioxidants, which are irreversibly oxidized to protect the body from free radicals, Q10 molecules can be used repeatedly. In addition, Q10 helps to slow down the aging process, is effective in the complex therapy of polycystic, with chronic fatigue syndrome and asthenic syndrome.

Rutin protects and strengthens capillaries and blood vessels, it has a beneficial effect on sexual function, normalizes hormonal balance and the functioning of the sex glands, promotes the growth and maturation of eggs. The lipophilic antioxidant lycopene is especially needed by the reproductive system of a woman in preparation for pregnancy. Lycopene helps prevent damage to the fetus during fetal development and alleviates the development of preeclampsia.

As already mentioned, most women aged 35-39 can become pregnant within a year or more. But doctors do not recommend that you wait a whole year to find out if you are one of them. In this case, you should not waste time, and if you have not been able to get pregnant for 6 months, you should contact a specialist and pass a series of tests. Most cases of infertility can be corrected. But even if you don’t succeed in conceiving naturally, reproductive technologies (IVF, ICSI) will help.

Finally, at this age, you can still use the option to freeze viable eggs for later use if you don't want to have a baby right now. A woman can freeze her eggs up to the age of 40, and with the help of them become a mother even after 44 years.

40 to 44

The older the woman, the less her chances of getting pregnant. After the age of 40, a woman may only ovulate a few times in a whole year, as the vital supply of eggs and estrogen production in the body decline. By the age of 40-44, 90% of a woman's eggs contain abnormal chromosomes. Also, in many women after 40 years, the endometrium, which lines the walls of the uterus, becomes thinner, which complicates the process of egg implantation. Therefore, the probability of getting pregnant after 40 in the traditional way is relatively small.

But the concept of "relatively small" does not mean that conception after 40 years is impossible. Even if you are 40 or more years old, you can safely become pregnant, endure and give birth to a healthy child. The main thing is to approach the issue of pregnancy planning wisely and competently.

For women at this age, the recommendations given in the section for "those over 35" remain relevant. But do not forget that conception after 40 years is associated with problems not only in the reproductive health of a woman and the quality of her eggs, but also in the genetic material of a male partner.

The age of a man for conception is no less important. In mature men, sperm counts and sperm motility are lower, while sperm counts with genetic abnormalities are higher than in younger men. Accordingly, with age, the risk of genetic abnormalities in a child increases due to a violation of the morphological structure of spermatozoa.

And the same oxidative stress, which was mentioned above, is to blame for this. As a result of the destructive activity of free radicals, sperm membranes are damaged, their mobility and fertilizing abilities are reduced. In addition, free radicals damage the DNA of chromosomes. Oxidative stress is associated with about half of the cases of infertility in men. Before this form of infertility, even the latest reproductive technologies are often powerless. After all, if the DNA structure of the spermatozoon is damaged, then even if it successfully fertilizes the egg (thanks to the ICSI protocol), the development of the embryo is disrupted and the child either dies in the early stages of intrauterine development, or is born with serious genetic defects.

In general, it is believed that the optimal age of a man for conception is up to 25-40 years. But this does not mean at all that men over 40 are contraindicated in having children. If the future father has exchanged his fourth decade, he needs to be more careful about his health and try to protect his sex cells from oxidative stress.

This will help the antioxidant complex "Synergin", which contains the substances necessary to maintain the health of the reproductive system and ensure the processes of spermatogenesis.

Beta-carotene, which is part of Synergin, is needed for the normal formation and development of male germ cells. In men whose diet included beta-carotene, an improvement in sperm motility was recorded. In addition, beta-carotene resists the effects of harmful environmental factors on the body and helps to strengthen the immune system.

Lycopene improves the morphological characteristics of sperm and slows down the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Rutin strengthens blood vessels and capillaries, improves the body's blood supply and microcirculation in all tissues and organs, including the organs of the reproductive system. Taking vitamin C helps increase the concentration of sperm in the ejaculate and reduces the risk of free radical damage to chromosome DNA.

Vitamin E reduces the risk of damage to the genetic apparatus of spermatozoa, improves the quality and quantity of sperm. The inclusion of vitamin E in complex therapy increases the likelihood of pregnancy in infertile couples.

Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) is vital for spermatozoa to maintain energy, increases the concentration and mobility of germ cells, improves their morphology, and also enhances the effect of vitamin E. The complex of antioxidants "Synergin" will be useful to all men, regardless of age, but those who already crossed the 40-year mark, antioxidants are highly recommended. Synergin is taken 2 capsules 1 time per day with meals. The course of admission is 1-3 months.

So, there are chances of getting pregnant after 40 years. They are not as high as at a younger age, but if you and your partner carefully monitor your health, eat right, track ovulation and take antioxidants, then you are very likely to conceive after 40 years. If you still fail to get pregnant in the traditional way, you can always resort to the help of reproductive technologies.

45 years and older

The probability of a woman getting pregnant after 45 is no more than 3-4%. Hypothetically this is possible, but assisted reproductive technology is almost always needed. The few eggs you have left may have chromosomal abnormalities, so an egg screening is very important before an in vitro fertilization procedure. In most clinics, patients who want to become pregnant at the age of 46-50 will be advised to use donor eggs from a young woman.

You need to be attentive to your health, including reproductive health, regardless of age. Don't wait for the violations to become irreversible and become an obstacle on your path to motherhood.
Get regular medical check-ups, lead a healthy lifestyle, and take antioxidants periodically. After all, even if you are young and healthy, you should not fully hope that nature will do everything by itself. Pregnancy is stressful for the body. And how carefully you approach the preparation for conception depends on your health and the health of your unborn child.

Under the inaudible ticking of the biological clock, a woman's reproductive capacity is steadily declining. Getting pregnant after 35 is difficult, if not impossible - not like in your 20s, or even in your early 30s. Even healthy women are subject to a natural decline in fertility levels. The likelihood of pregnancy loss also increases with age. Fortunately, medicine is making huge strides towards solving both of these problems. From our article, you will learn about infertility in women over 35, its causes, risk factors and possible elimination methods, as well as ways to increase fertility after 35. And after 35, you can get pregnant and successfully carry a baby! Age should not prevent you from knowing the joy of motherhood.

Age and infertility

Fertility is the natural ability to bear children. Infertility is a consequence of a very low level of fertility. In women over 35, infertility means the inability to conceive and bear a child even after six months of active sex without the use of contraceptives. Infertility can be caused by various reasons.

The ovaries play a key role in the normal functioning of the female reproductive system. The ovaries are a pair of reproductive organs that produce eggs and produce sex hormones in women. The work of the ovaries directly depends on the age of the woman. As we age, the ability of the ovaries to produce normal, healthy eggs declines. Therefore, with age, the probability of conceiving and bearing a child in women decreases.

When a woman is still in the womb (“at age” 20 weeks), there are more than 7 million eggs in her ovaries.
At birth, their number is reduced to 2 million.
By puberty, only 3,000 eggs remain in a woman's ovaries.
Of these, only 300 will reach maturity and leave the ovaries during ovulation.
Women's fertility peaks between the ages of 18 and 20.
The decline in the number of eggs continues even during pregnancy.
At the age of 28-29 years, the rate of reduction in the number of eggs increases
At the age of 35, the number of eggs decreases rapidly.
At age 40, the rate of egg loss accelerates tremendously.
With age, especially between the ages of 33 and 39, fertility declines rapidly. Reduced blood flow to the ovaries, which affects both the quality and quantity of eggs. As health problems arise, ovulation becomes irregular, the levels of sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, decrease, and as a result, the child is more likely to develop chromosomal abnormalities.

Reducing the number of eggs and ovarian disease: Age negatively affects the number and quality of eggs in a woman's ovaries. In addition, age-related processes are often accompanied by a violation of the maturation and release of eggs.

Reduced blood flow to the ovaries: Increased blood flow to the organ is necessary for its normal functioning. When a woman reaches menopause, blood flow to the ovaries decreases significantly, especially compared to the blood flow during adolescence.

Unstable hormonal levels: A decrease in hormone levels also affects a woman's ability to conceive. With age, the levels of hormones - estrogen, testosterone and progesterone - decrease, which directly affects the ability to conceive and bear a child. An unstable hormonal background can cause infertility.

Cervical (cervical) mucus: The cells that line the walls of the cervical canal produce mucus. Fertile mucus allows sperm to flow smoothly and unhindered into the cervix. The average "life" of sperm is 3 to 5 days, or more in 20-year-old women. With age, this period is sharply reduced and averages 1 day.

Other health problems: Uterine abnormalities, fibroid tumors, and other conditions can also cause infertility. In addition, after 35 years, the likelihood of developing endometriosis increases - a disease in which endometrial foci appear on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and other organs of the reproductive system, i.e. foci of growth of endometrial tissue. Damage to the fallopian tubes can lead to infertility. Due to dysfunction of the fallopian tubes, the eggs cannot flow from the ovaries to the uterus, which disrupts the conception process.

Chronic illnesses: Certain chronic illnesses and medications can affect a woman's fertility.

Unknown Causes: A physical examination will usually reveal one or two causes that cause infertility. However, in some cases, the causes of infertility can not be determined, despite a comprehensive medical examination.

Ovulation disorders: Polycystic ovaries (PCOS) is the most common cause of ovulation disorders. Between 40% and 80% of women with PCOS experience infertility. 8-10% of women of childbearing age suffer from polycystic ovaries.

How to increase the chance of conception

The chances of conceiving and bearing a child after 35 can be increased. Many factors can contribute to infertility, and although some of them cannot be eliminated, a woman can reduce the effect of a number of lifestyle factors. To do this, you need to understand and accept the fact that conception primarily depends on the state of health. You need to set a goal - to improve the state of health, both physical and mental, get rid of bad habits and avoid stress. According to experts, the female body responds well to reproductive therapy if it is close to harmony.

Start by changing your daily routine. Consider diet, habits, exercise, travel, stressors, relaxation techniques, spending time with a partner, sleep patterns, regularity of sex life, and other factors. Try to eliminate factors that negatively affect your health, such as: consumption of fatty foods, alcohol and caffeine, smoking. These factors reduce the chances of conception and increase the chances of miscarriage in the event of a successful conception.

Doctors, for their part, recommend checking the level of hormones. In this case, the level of progesterone, estrogen and thyroid hormones is measured. If necessary, the liver is cleansed of toxins. It is also recommended to adjust the diet and keep a calendar of the menstrual cycle to identify its violations. The woman's partner should learn various relaxation techniques to help her relieve stress.

Pregnancy at any age requires responsibility, especially if this is the first pregnancy at 35 years old. The opinions of doctors in matters relating to the optimal age of the woman in labor often differ. And yet, in recent years, there has been a growing number of women who decide to give birth to children at a later age.

Possible difficulties

The risk of a difficult course of gestation and the development of fetal pathology is present at any age. But this is not a reason to refuse the opportunity to experience the happy feeling of motherhood.

An important and decisive factor is the psychological side of the issue, because by the age of 30, many women are already quite independent in terms of material and career growth. In a woman at this age, maternal instinct begins to manifest, but someone thinks that it is no longer possible to get pregnant after 30 years.

Is it possible to get pregnant at 35? Doctors believe that the optimal age for childbirth is 20-30 years, this is due to female physiology. However, even at 35, childbirth is successful if certain preparation methods are taken.

The female body is capable of childbearing as long as certain hormones and collagen are produced. Thanks to collagen, muscles are strengthened, the skin becomes more elastic, and the body as a whole is rejuvenated.

Advantages and disadvantages

As a rule, planning a pregnancy at the age of 35 already speaks of the consciousness of future parents. A married couple discusses in advance the issue of the birth of a future baby.

There are pros and cons of being pregnant at 35.

The benefits include:

1. responsibility;
2. the presence of a family;
3. financial savings;
4. career growth.

In adulthood, the relationship between husband and wife becomes more stable and calmer. So, the child will grow in perfect harmony. Despite these advantages, the birth of a child after 35 years of age has its drawbacks.

What are the difficulties of pregnancy after 35 years:

• toxicosis from the beginning to the end of gestation;
• acute or chronic lack of fetal oxygen;
• premature discharge of fetal water;
• premature detachment of the placenta;
• insufficient divergence of the hip bones;
• risk of ectopic pregnancy, high miscarriage rate;
• placental problems and bleeding;
• premature or premature fetus.

Complications during pregnancy can appear at any age, so it is important to prepare yourself for childbirth. But after the age of 35, the risk of various complications increases, as more bad habits and chronic diseases appear with age. Also, with age, the state of health worsens, so it becomes harder to cope with the direct duties of the mother.

Preparation

How to get pregnant after 35? Preparing for conception helps to avoid complications associated with age. The doctor will prescribe tests that identify possible health problems. If the woman is healthy and there are no contraindications for childbirth, the doctor will give the necessary recommendations for further pregnancy planning.

Preparing for pregnancy is necessary as follows:

1. give up alcohol and smoking;
2. do physical exercises regularly;
3. maintain proper nutrition;
4. observe the daily routine;
5. walk at least two hours a day;
6. avoid stressful situations;
7. monitor the norm of weight;
8. make all vaccinations prescribed by the attending physician;
9. attend courses for expectant mothers.

Medicine today has stepped far forward, so any woman with an established menstrual cycle has a chance to give birth. The main thing is to listen to the characteristics of your body.

The chances of IVF at 35 years old are 33.9%, making happy motherhood possible at this age.

How to prepare for pregnancy after 35? The main preparation at this age is the examination and implementation of all doctor's recommendations.

Second child

However, a woman's body after 35 years of age needs additional medications. Vitamins for men 35 years old also contribute to the early conception.

What to take to get pregnant after 35 years:

• folic acid;
• Multivitamins;
• potassium iodide;
• Iron preparations.

Why is it difficult to get pregnant after 35? As women get older, it becomes more difficult to get pregnant, especially if this is the first child. After the age of 35, egg production decreases, blood flow to the ovaries decreases, hormones change, ovulation is disrupted, and more health problems appear.

Second births have a risk of passing on their diseases to the baby. There is a possibility of having a child with Down syndrome. A second pregnancy after 35 years of age can lead to the unwanted complications described above, but this does not mean that you need to give up the opportunity to become a mother. Getting pregnant after 35 years with a second child is not only possible, but also necessary, because during gestation the cells in the body are updated, the woman begins to feel younger.

third child

A third pregnancy at 35 has many benefits, such as experience. Parents already know how to raise a child. And also they are more calm about the various pranks of the baby.

If the previous birth was recent, then the risk of having a child with injuries decreases, since the birth canal and pelvic muscles are already prepared for childbirth.

There are risks of pregnancy both up to 35 years and after. Therefore, this fact should not prevent a married couple from becoming happy parents. Everyone gives birth to children at the age when they are ready for this serious step.

Today, modern medicine can help any woman give birth, the main thing is to have a desire. After all, age is not a hindrance, but just a small nuance. If you start to be examined in time and follow all the instructions of the attending physician, then soon the couple will hear children's laughter in their apartment.

Many women over the age of 35 consider pregnancy a mistake. Is this situation really wrong? Is it worth the risk and leave the child?

Pregnancy after thirty-five: is it easy

There is an opinion that it is better to give birth only at a young and young age, when the body can cope well with it. But, despite the general opinion and instructions of doctors, most women take a hit on themselves and their body, thereby bearing and giving birth to children. Healthy, strong and good children.

To decide on such a step as a late pregnancy, you need to clearly understand and, without deceiving yourself, answer the question: “Is this responsible step really necessary?”. No one has the right to judge a person. It often happens that termination of pregnancy is the only way out of the situation. If, nevertheless, the decision was made positive, and the desire to leave the fetus is, then you need to be careful and attentive in carrying a child.

Power and loads

The main thing a woman should pay attention to is nutrition, physical activity, stressful situations. Of course, at any age, you need to observe peace, caution and a balanced diet in everything, but an older woman should pay special attention to this. The body eventually loses many opportunities, skills, is not as resistant to many changes as a young one. And if before that there were childbirth, then constant consultations with a doctor, frequent visits to the clinic and regular testing are needed.

prepare mentally

In addition to the physical condition, you must also be mentally prepared for such a responsible event. Girls at a young age are not as reverent about childbirth and their preparation as an older girl. It is necessary to understand and realize that the days of a pregnant woman will not always go well, therefore it is desirable that constant support be nearby. If it so happened that there is no father of the child, then the mother or friends can surround with warmth and care.

Recently, women have had quite a few reasons to postpone the moment when they decide to become a mother - a career, the search for a partner and worries about material well-being come to the fore. And it often happens that when all the goals have already been achieved, a new problem arises - pregnancy does not occur.

According to experts, the conception and course of pregnancy in women over 35 years of age depends not so much on age as on the physiological state of the body of the expectant mother and her partner.

Georgy Lebedenko

Georgy Lebedenko, general practitioner, chief physician at the Clinic of Professor Yutskovskaya, curator of the YU-Life project:

“Women aged 35+ should approach the issue of pregnancy very carefully. In our practice, we are faced with the fact that many of these patients simply do not have time for preconception preparation. And in this case, preparation for pregnancy takes a certain period, because, as a rule, patients after 35 years of age accumulate a certain amount of genetic “breakdowns”. This may be due to the presence of chronic diseases, all kinds of viral infections, and so on. It is important to understand that the problem of conception is not the only one, because the period of pregnancy itself is a very important stage for a woman’s body, and at the age of 35+ it is more difficult to endure.

In addition, an important factor is the reproductive health of the potential father of the unborn child. Indeed, in men after 35 years, the function of producing high-quality sperm decreases, spermatozoa become less active, their morphological qualities decrease.

Elvira, 41 years old

“My husband and I have been together for 8 years, and despite the fact that we never used contraception, I never got pregnant. I went through a full medical examination, healed on the little things, drank vitamins, but I still can’t get pregnant. I constantly cry when my period comes ... Also, from relatives and friends, constant pressure about the fact that I can’t give birth ... "

Georgy Lebedenko:

“When choosing an IVF method, a woman goes through a hormonal stimulation protocol, but you need to understand that the partner plays an equally important role in the effectiveness of conception. There are couples who, between the ages of 25 and 35, try to get pregnant on their own, and they fail. Often in such cases, the problem is in the man. Therefore, it is necessary to competently approach the examination and pre-gravid preparation, which both partners must undergo. It is also important to note that it is necessary to consult with several specialists, at least three: a urologist-andrologist, a gynecologist-endocrinologist and a general practitioner. Only such an approach can increase the chances of getting the desired pregnancy. And of course, the period of pregnancy should be monitored by several specialists.

Tatyana N, 38 years old

“I am 38 years old, no children, but I would really like to already. The problem is that I'm just afraid of pregnancy. I feel like I just can't bear a child. After all, I have a constant weakness, always a lack of some vitamins, then something is wrong with the blood, and so on. Of course, I understand that not with such problems they bear and give birth. But, after reading articles and forums, I was horrified - because if I already have health problems, then how can I even walk during pregnancy ... Girls who do not “suffer” from good health, but nevertheless endured and gave birth?

Lilia Farrakhova

Liliya Farrakhova, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist at Professor Yutskovskaya Clinic, member of the Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

“An important role is played by the psychological factor - fears are justified and not very. The imaginary unpreparedness of a woman can lead to infertility at the level of self-hypnosis. As for physiology, the reason for the decrease in the ability to conceive in older patients is the quality of the follicles remaining in the ovaries. The likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs begins to increase dramatically after 35 years. And accordingly, from this age, the number of normal embryos, with a normal chromosome set, capable of giving a normally developing pregnancy, decreases. Already at the age of 43, the percentage of normal embryos does not exceed 15%"

Consider the main risks and complications associated with late pregnancy:

There is a high risk of having a "late" child with congenital anomalies (such as Down's syndrome);
Miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies are also common complications of pregnancy in women over 35;
Exacerbation of chronic diseases that can be caused by pregnancy.

However, advances in modern medicine make it possible to diagnose birth defects even before the baby is born. For example, amniopuncture, chorion biopsy and other methods. Also, with the help of special equipment, it is possible to assess the existing threats to the fetus during childbirth, take the necessary actions and prevent possible birth injuries.

Lilia Farrakhova:

“Not a single achievement of medicine for the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth can be equated with what depends on the mother herself, so that the outcome of the pregnancy is successful both for herself and for her child. It's about exercising, following a special diet, about high-quality prenatal care."

Having considered some of the disadvantages of childbirth after 35, we must not forget about the pros:

Pregnancy at this age contributes to the rejuvenation of the body;
Moms in this age group (after 35) are better at parenting because of their maturity and “knowledge” of life. They are more patient, restrained, balanced.

Maria, 37 years old

“At 32, I divorced my husband, who did not want children. She was left without housing, without special financial reserves. I've already crossed myself. But a year later I met a man on a dating site. We both wanted to have a family and children. She got married in the fourth month of pregnancy. Almost 35 years old gave birth to the first child. The pregnancy was complicated by fibromyoma, and I was hospitalized 5 times for conservation. But I never doubted the birth of a healthy child. It was a cesarean. But now, at 37, I have a two-year-old baby, a good husband and a desire to have a second child. In general, the main thing in this business is a good doctor, or rather a few, a non-drinking husband with brains who loves you, and a positive attitude. And everything will work out!