Getting Pregnant At 40: Benefits, Risks, And Useful Tips

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Some women prefer to plan their pregnancy when they turn forty. However, many of these women are concerned about the adverse effects of late pregnancies on their and their baby’s health.

If you are also planning to get pregnant at 40 but unsure of the decision, you should understand that with age, your fertility decreases. After reaching your 40s, the eggs’ quality also does not remain the same. However, this does not indicate that pregnancy is impossible at 40.

According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics 2021 report, out of 3,664,292 live births in the US, 135,735 successful live births accounted for women over 40 years. Therefore, those planning to conceive at 40 should discuss with their doctor about exploring healthy and safe options for conception.

This post provides you with information on the advantages and disadvantages of late pregnancy, why your pregnancy decreases with age, and tips on increasing your success rate of conception.

Chances Of Pregnancy At 40

It depends on how far you are into your 40s. During the early 40s, your chance of conceiving is about 20 percent, and it depends upon your menstrual cycle. The percentage further deteriorates to 15 percent during your mid-40s.

There is a reduced chance of pregnancy at 45 or after. The number of eggs begins to diminish by this age and the fertility rate decreases. Your reduced fertility not only depends upon the number of eggs but also upon the quality of the eggs.

By your 40s, most of the eggs your ovaries release are not perfectly healthy and more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities. These abnormalities in your eggs increase greater risks of miscarriage and birth defects. Such complications seem more prevalent in older women (1).

Nonetheless, the prospect of becoming pregnant in your 40s remains a subtle possibility. Robin, a mother of two already, recounts her unexpected pregnancy experience at the age of 44. She reflects, “The prescription for my birth control pill had run out a few months ago. I called to make an appointment with my OB/GYN [obstetrician/gynecologist]. She had moved to Hawaii. So I found a new one but wasn’t able to get in until June. I figured at my age and my history of difficulty with getting pregnant in the past, I just needed to be careful and I’d be fine (i).”

Did you know?

By the time a woman reaches 40 years, about 60% of her eggs may contain an abnormal number of chromosomes (10).

Advantages Of Getting Pregnant At 40

Though your fertility rate decreases with your increasing age, there are certain benefits associated with mid-life pregnancy:

1. Financially Stable:

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• One of the greatest merits of having a baby in your 40s is that you are financially stable to take their complete responsibility.

• By this age, your career flourishes and you reach to a secure and stable condition that you can support your family in all aspects of life.

2. Raising A Kid In A Positive Environment:

• As you get the chance to spend long years with your life partner, you know each other in a better way. The bonding is rather strong, and the family offers a solid foundation for their child’s upbringing.

• Young parents have a tendency to fight and quarrel, due to a financially unstable condition. It often leads to divorce, which can affect your child’s well-being.

3. Taking Mature And Wise Decisions:

• As a mature individual, you will possess the ability to make wise parenting decisions for your baby.

Disadvantages Of Getting Pregnant In Your 40s

There are certain health and pregnancy complications associated with pregnancy after 40. If you conceive in your older age, it is better to remain in extra care throughout your gestation.

Here are some of the common health issues that you may face during pregnancy in your 40s:

1. Diseases:

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• When you are expecting in your late 40s, it increases your risks of suffering from numerous health diseases, which include gestational diabetesⁱA condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to hormonal and physical changes in pregnancy. , pre-eclampsia, placental abruptionⁱSeparation of the placenta from the inner wall of the uterus before birth. , high blood pressure and placenta praeviaⁱA pregnancy complication where the placenta obstructs the cervix, causing difficulties in vaginal delivery. .

• During the 40s, some of the common issues you come across are irregular periods and fertility problems. Consult with the gynecologist, as he prescribes effective medications to cure the menstrual disorders. For fertility issues, your gynecologist recommends you to visit a fertility specialist.

2. Pregnancy Complications:

• There are several birth complexities associated with getting pregnant in 40s such as a cesarean section, low birth weight of the baby, awkward position of the baby and premature childbirth.

• In the 40s, the eggs are likely to develop a certain chromosomal problem that leads to miscarriage and low birth weight of the baby (2).

Research finds

The risk of having a child with Down syndrome at age 45 increases to 1 in 30 compared to a risk of 1 in 365 at age 35 (11).

Possible Risks Associated With Getting Pregnant At 40

A monocentric study conducted on pregnant women aged between 40 – 45 years old, showed that the risks of complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes were higher in the women who fell within the age group of 40-45. Later pregnancies are also associated with other risks, such as (3):

• Preterm delivery
• Cesarean delivery
• Fetal death in utero

Therefore, for women considering a pregnancy after 40, it is advised they have a thorough talk with their obstetrician about the possible complications that might occur and work on ways that will help reduce the chances of those complications. You should also make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle and take the necessary care to have a healthy pregnancy.

What Decreases Fertility With Increasing Age?

Research concludes that most females above 40 suffer from ovum related issues, which is the primary cause of infertility. With appropriate medical treatment and restoration of the ovarian cycle, the female reproductive organs in 40-year-olds become competent enough to bear a healthy pregnancy. Additionally, the hormonal secretion declines in women in their 40s. The normal ovulation process substantially decreases, and the factor decreases the fertility rate in older women.

Useful Tips To Increase Your Success Rate Of Getting Pregnant At 40 Years Old

By making some lifestyle changes, you can increase your success rate of getting pregnant in the 40s. Follow the helpful tips to prepare yourself for pregnancy at or after the age of 40:

1. Consult An Experienced Gynecologist:

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• It is better to remain in touch with an experienced gynecologist, who performs all the requisite medical tests to diagnose your fertility conditions.

• The doctor guides you through right treatments and methods, which increases your chances of conceiving in the 40s.

• The medical practitioner performs a routine examination of your body that usually consists of a Pap smear and pelvic exam. The check-up takes around 15-20 minutes.

• Ask your doctor about how to elevate your chances of conceiving naturally. Always have an open conversation with the doctor and inform him about your past medical history and your current lifestyle.

• Discuss with the doctor if you can continue taking any medications while you are trying to conceive. If the doctor restricts you from taking any particular medicines or herbal supplements, do follow his advice properly.

• Get the immunizations as suggested by your doctor. The doctor performs a close health scrutiny and recommends taking vaccination for harmful diseases such as rubella and chickenpox.

2. Deal With Existing Health Problems:

• If you had any complex health problem, you need to treat those conditions before pregnancy.

• If you are overweight, try to lose your extra pounds by eating nutritious foods and practicing regular exercises.

• Get effective medication for any chronic health ailments such as high blood pressure or thyroid diseases.

• Sexually transmitted infections decrease your chances of conception. So inform your doctor about your health discomforts and get effective treatment for the sexually transmitted infections and diseases immediately.

• If you are already taking any medication for a chronic condition, including hypothyroidism, your doctor suggests you to go through a blood test before trying o conceive. If the test indicates that the level is under control, you are safe to conceive. However, you will have to undergo periodic testing, and your doctor changes the dosage of medications over time.

• The existence of any health complexities decreases your ability to conceive naturally. Hence, it is important to inform the doctor about all your health diseases and complexities in advance. The doctor suggests suitable medications to treat the health disorders.

3. Follow A Healthy Regime:

• If you are willing to increase your fertility rate, it is important to make lifestyle changes and stay positive about life.

• Try to give up the habits of smoking or drinking alcohol, as they adversely degrade the fertility rate.

• To reduce excess stress, you can try practicing healthy exercises including yoga, cycling, swimming, jogging and even walking in your daily regime.

• Get plenty of sleep, to keep you rejuvenated. Sufficient rest eliminates harmful toxins from your body and helps you to live a stress-free life.

• Make requisite changes in your dietary plan and include nutritious foods in your diet. You can include fresh vegetables, whole grains, and folate-rich foods like dark leafy veggies, legumes and citrus fruits in your diet. To increase protein intake add eggs, dairy products, fish and lean meats (4).

4. Consider Fertility Treatments:

• It becomes difficult to conceive naturally after 40, so you may need fertility treatments to increase your success rate. especially if you are beyond your peak reproductive age. Talk to your doctor about some effective fertility-enhancing drugs or treatment options.

• Your doctor may suggest an intake of oral medications such as clomiphene or clomiphene citrate. These medications increase the rate of ovulation and success rate for conception. However, research concludes that fertility-enhancing medications elevate the chance of multiple pregnancies.

• The doctor may recommend you to take hormonal injections of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)ⁱA hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy to sustain the pregnancy and nourish the fertilized egg. to boost your fertility rate. The rate of multiple births is usually higher with such treatments.

• In situations where carrying a baby naturally with the aid of medication and surgical treatment is not possible, the doctor may suggest in vitro fertilization (IVF). Childbirth via surrogacy may also be explored in the case of IVF based on the to-be parents’ preferences and other factors, including local laws.

• If your reproductive system is damaged, and it interferes with the process of conceiving the doctor may suggest a surgical procedure. The surgery helps to rectify the issue and boosts your chance of conception (5).

Point to consider

There is about an 11% success rate for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for women aged 40 to 42 years when no donor gametes have been used (12).

5. Maintain A Healthy Body Weight:

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• Obesity is one of the leading factors to impose infertility and a higher BMI. The significant alterations in the normal ovulation rate usually occur due to higher BMI.

• Avoid vigorous dieting or starvation, as high nutritional deficiencies greatly hampers the secretion of endocrine hormones. Practice healthy exercises to lose your extra pounds.

• Avoid intake of hormonal supplements for weight loss. Such supplements harshly affect the secretion of the follicle-stimulating hormone, which lowers the fertility rate.

• Perform regular fertility enhancing yoga postures that promote effective blood flow into your female reproductive organs.

6. Consider Donor Eggs:

• At this age, your ability to conceive naturally is quite low. That’s why it is a great idea to consider donor eggs if you want to conceive.

• Your chances of getting pregnant with viable donor eggs are pretty high.

• You can also opt for surrogacy and choose a healthy woman to carry your baby for you. These options are becoming popular these days, and it never hurts if your partner supports your decision (6).

Quick fact

Women are increasingly opting for cryopreserving or freezing their eggs when young to conceive at a later age. Women aged 40 may also freeze their eggs (13).

Home Remedies To Increase Your Success Rate Of Getting Pregnant In The 40s

Here are some home remedies that may help to elevate your chances of getting pregnant in your 40s:

• It is very important to keep a close track of you menstrual cycle and remain acknowledged about your fertile days. The fertile period lies on the 14th day of your menstrual cycle and for the next ten days.

Image: IStock

• Monitor and record your basal body temperature and practice frequent intercourse at or around the time of ovulation. A slight increase of your body temperature indicates that you are successfully ovulating, and it is the best time for sexual intercourse.

• Use an ovulation predictor kit that indicates the successful ovulation days and increases your chances of conception.

• Monitor the substantial changes in your cervical secretion. It enables you to understand whether the embryo successfully implants in the uterus or not.

• Avoid performing strenuous physical activities especially running, riding stairs and lifting heavy weights during the course.

• Performing sexual intercourse in different positions elevates your chances of pregnancy at 40.The doggy position is mostly preferred for baby making as the sperms deeply penetrate.

• Experts suggest that soft massaging of the uterus helps in promoting blood supply and enhances healthy development of uterine tissue.

• Fertility cleansing helps your body to get rid of toxic wastes that your body releases during the normal metabolic process. Elimination of toxic wastes increases your chances of conception.

Herbal Remedies To Boost Fertility In The 40s

Healthy nourishing fertility supplements such as extract of fresh garlic, vitamin C, and grapefruit juice helps in boosting the fertility rate in your 40s. The herbal remedies impose lesser side effects in your body as compared to pharmacological agents. Most of the herbal products promotes effective blood supply to your reproductive organs, stabilize the secretion of vital fertility hormones and maintains the normal pH balance of the female genital tract.

Here are few effective herbal remedies that help you to conceive naturally in the 40s:

• Saw Palmetto: The useful over the counter herb is usually available in the form of capsules. It promotes healthy fertility by treating menstrual irregularities.

• False Unicorn: Is is an ancient Native American herb that effectively treats the female as well as treat infertility issues. The herb is beneficial for women with a history of recurrent miscarriages.

• Red Clover: The herbal supplement helps to enhance the female fertility rate naturally. The herb helps to treat hormonal irregularities, detoxifies your blood and delivers vital vitamins to your body.

• Maca: The herb signifies its action by improving the sex drive and effective management of female complexities like the polycystic ovarian disease.

• Vitex: It is one of the popular herbal remedies that helps to treat menstrual irregularities, manage ovarian cysts and regulates ovulatory cycles.

Important Things To Remember

• Drink plenty of water as it helps to keep your tissues hydrated and healthy. Water easily keeps your appetite full, decrease your food cravings and prevent you from gaining excess weight. The hormone secretion increases and your chances to conceive boosts naturally.

• Increase your intake of anti-oxidants in your diet. The effective elements neutralize or kill free radicals and protect your eggs from any damages or chromosomal complexities.

• Stress, anxiety and worry degrade the production of healthy female reproductive hormones and restrict proper blood supply to your reproductive organs. Try to lead a stress-free life, practice yoga or meditation to improve your chances of getting pregnant at 40 naturally and to ensure a safe delivery.

Infographic: Facts On Conceiving In Your 40s

Conceiving can become more challenging as you grow older, and it may take longer to get pregnant. To be well-informed on this subject at a glance, go through the infographic, which explains some facts regarding getting pregnant in your 40s.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Getting Pregnant At 40: Benefits Risks And Useful Tips

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

With changing times women are choosing to have children at a later stage in life. Watch this informative video so that you have a clear idea of what to expect with fertility in your forties.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Ng Kai LynMMed (O&G), MRCOG

Dr. Ng Kai Lyn is a Singapore-based obstetrician and gynecologist, specializing in urogynecology, minimally invasive surgery, and clinical interest in fertility. She has an experience of 12 years managing and treating benign gynecological conditions, including uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometrial polyps, and endometriosis.

Read full bio of Dr. Ng Kai Lyn

shreeja pillaiMSc

Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das