Difference between revisions of "Get Pregnant Over 40"

It used to be fairly uncommon for women over the age of 40 to have children, but many women are now delaying pregnancy to finish their educations or get established in their careers.<ref name="rf1">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20045756</ref> Although it can be more difficult to conceive after 40, it is still possible to get pregnant.<ref name="rf2">https://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/ASRM_Content/Resources/Patient_Resources/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/agefertility.pdf</ref> Try conceiving naturally and then consider fertility treatments if you have any difficulty getting pregnant.

#*Recognize that it can take up to six months for your cycle to become regular and for you to ovulate after stopping hormonal birth control.<ref name="rf3">https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/transcripts/improve_odds_becoming_pregnant</ref>

#Monitor your cycle for ovulation. You’re most like to get pregnant when you are ovulating. From monitoring cervical mucus to taking your basal temperature, watching your menstrual cycle can help you detect ovulation, which may increase your chances of conceiving.<ref name="rf4">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/how-to-get-pregnant/art-20047611</ref>

#Observe cervical mucous. A woman’s cervical mucus changes consistency depending on her cycle. Watching for differences in your cervical mucus may help you conceive more easily.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Look for an increase in mucus and a change in consistency to thin and slippery around ovulation. Following ovulation, cervical mucous decreases, thickens, and is generally less noticeable.<ref name="rf5">http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Fertility-Awareness-Based-Methods-of-Family-Planning</ref>

#*Be comfortable and extremely diligent when examining your cervical mucus to increase your chances of conceiving.<ref name="rf5" />

#Watch the calendar. Observe the “standard rule” that menstrual cycles average between 26 and 32 days for most women. Watching the calendar can help you figure out the days when you are most likely to conceive.<ref name="rf5" />

#*Watch for changes in your cycle around day 14, which is the approximate day on which many women ovulate.<ref name="rf4" /> Be aware that this can vary from person to person.

#*Consider enjoying sex more often between days 8 and 19 of your cycle to increase your chances of getting pregnant.<ref name="rf5" />

#Track your basal body temperature. Your basal body temperature, or your body’s temperature while fully resting, can increase slightly during ovulation. Take your temperature every day before you get out of bed in the morning to measure your basal temperature and increase your chances of conceiving.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Use a thermometer specifically designed for taking basal temperature. You can get these at many pharmacies and medical supply stores.<ref name="rf4" />

#*See if your basal temperature increases up to 1 degree Fahrenheit (.5 Celsius), which might indicate ovulation.<ref name="rf5" />

#*Take your temperature right after you wake up and before you get out of bed as your baseline number. Make sure to continue measuring your temperature at the same time every day.<ref name="rf5" />

#*Write your temperature down in a notebook and see if you notice any patterns.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Most women are fertile in the two to three days before their temperature rises.<ref name="rf4" />

#Use an ovulation predictor kit. If tracking mucus, days, or temperature feels like too much work to you, buy an ovulation predictor kit. These tests can predict ovulation or signal it before it happens.<ref name="rf4" />

#Enjoy sex regularly.  They key to getting pregnant in most cases is to have sex. Aim to have sex a few times a week, which increases your chances of hitting one of your fertile days.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Have sex at least two to three times a week, which should be enough to hit one of your fertile periods.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Have sex at least once a day near the time you ovulate to increase your chances of conceiving.<ref name="rf4" />

#Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Make healthy choices if you want to get pregnant. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising, and managing stress can increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Be aware that it can take you longer than normal to conceive naturally after 35. See a doctor if it takes you longer than 6 months to rule out fertility problems.<ref name="rf6">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20045756?pg=1</ref>

#*Stick to a healthy and nutrient rich diet of about 2,000 calories a day, depending on how active you are.<ref name="rf7">http://www.eatright.org/resource/health/weight-loss/your-health-and-your-weight/your-health-and-your-weight</ref> Incorporate foods from the five food groups.<ref name="rf8">http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/</ref>

#*Aim to get 150 minutes of moderate cardio activity such as brisk walking and muscle strength training on two days of every week.<ref name="rf9">http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/</ref>

#*Limit and manage anything that causes stress in your life.<ref name="rf4" />

#*Avoid recreational drugs and tobacco products, which can prematurely age your eggs.<ref name="rf10">http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/how-to-get-pregnant/art-20047611?pg=2</ref>

#*Avoid or limit your alcohol intake as well. Studies have shown drinking can decrease your fertility.<ref name="rf10" />

#*Take prenatal vitamins to reduce the risk of any pregnancy resulting in neural tube defects.<ref name="rf10" />

#See your OB/GYN. If you’ve been trying to conceive naturally for six months or longer with no luck, schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN. She can run tests to determine if you have a fertility issue or recommend a specialist for high-risk pregnancies.<ref name="rf10" />

#Determine any causes of infertility. There are a variety of reasons that may prevent you from conceiving naturally including structural issues with either the man or the woman.<ref name="rf3" /> Determining what is impeding your ability to conceive can help your doctor formulate a more effective treatment plan and may also help you get pregnant. Undergo any tests your doctor might suggest for you and your partner including:

#*Imaging tests such as hysterosalpingography or hysterosonography.<ref name="rf11">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20034770</ref>

#Treat causes of infertility. If your doctor determines that something specific is impeding your ability to conceive, treat the disorder. After receiving your treatment, speak to your doctor about resuming attempts to conceive naturally or use other methods such as in-vitro fertilization.<ref name="rf11" /> Some treatments for infertility include:

#*Surgery.<ref name="rf12">http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/basics/treatment/con-20034770</ref>

#Stimulate ovulation with drugs. The number of eggs a woman has decreases considerably after the age of 40. Your doctor may suggest taking medications to help restore your regular cycle and stimulate ovulation if your infertility is unexplained or other treatments haven’t corrected it.<ref name="rf3" /> Take these medications to increase your chances of getting pregnant.<ref name="rf3" />

#*Speak to your doctor about the best medication for you.<ref name="rf12" /> She may suggest options such as clomiphene citrate (clomid or Serophene) or letrozole (Femara), which are considered safe drugs and are relatively inexpensive.<ref name="rf3" />

#*Inject or ingest fertility drugs. They may cause nausea, insomnia, and headaches.<ref name="rf3" />

#*Be aware that fertility drugs can result in multiple pregnancy or conditions such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which causes the ovaries to become painful and swollen.<ref name="rf12" />   

#Consider Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).  If you’re still having trouble conceiving following treatment, consider using one of the many forms of assisted reproductive technology available today.<ref name="rf12" /> From in-vitro fertilization to gestational carrier, ARTs can greatly increase your chances of conceiving or having a baby to 5-10% per cycle.<ref name="rf2" /> Some of the following ARTs may be available to you:

#*In-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is the most commonly used ART.<ref name="rf3" /> This requires collecting eggs and sperm from the woman and man and then fertilizing them in a dish in a lab. After fertilization, the embryos are implanting into the woman.<ref name="rf12" />

#*Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which a healthy sperm is injected into a mature egg.<ref name="rf12" />  

#*Donor eggs or sperm. Although most couples will use their own eggs and sperm, if there are serious problems with either the eggs or sperm, you can opt to use a known or anonymous donor egg or sperm.<ref name="rf12" />

#*Gestational carrier. If you have some physical issue that impedes carrying a pregnancy but not conceiving, you can choose to have the embryo placed in the uterus of a woman who agrees to carry the baby.<ref name="rf12" />  

*Relax as much as you can. Research has shown that anxiety can affect your fertility.<ref name="rf13">http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/fertility</ref>

*Be aware that getting pregnant after 40 can increase the risk of miscarriage, multiple births, health issues such as gestational diabetes, and birth defects.<ref name="rf6" />