How Age Can Affect Pregnancy

Nowadays, more and more couples are delaying their desire to have children compared to decades back when women in their 20s would already consider having children right after marriage. The causes for delay are often related to couples' desire to focus on their careers or wanting to build financial stability first before starting a family. While in some cases, couples simply prefer to have children when they are much older, say in their 30s or even 40s.

Getting pregnant and a woman's fertility are closely connected with her age. Unlike men whose age does not significantly affect their fertility, women's ability to conceive declines as they age. While this is true, it does not necessarily mean that women in their 30s or 40s cannot have babies any more. They still can, but with their age, coupled with health issues if there are any, the chances are lower compared with their younger counterparts.

Women are most fertile and have greater chances of getting pregnant when they are between the ages of 20 and 24. Moving on to 30s and older, women's fertility sharply decreases and trying to get pregnant sometimes takes years or does not happen at all anymore. This means that women who are 35 years old are only half fertile than they were ten years back. The same is true with 40-year old women who are only half fertile than they were at 30 years old.

Studies show that 6 percent of women at 35 years old as well as 23 percent who are aged 38 years old have no chance of conceiving any more even after three years of consistently trying. This is gathered from the same data that showed 92 percent of couples who engage in regular sex every two to three days are able to conceive within two years' time.

There are also other factors that contribute to older women's inability to conceive at their age. This includes the fact that with their age, viable eggs left in their ovary decline in number. Secondly, the endometrium, the womb lining that helps with a successful conception, begins to thin with a woman's advancing age. This makes the accommodation of a fertilised egg more difficult.

Additionally, the vaginal mucus becomes less sticky, which makes fertilisation of the eggs and sperm cell less possible. Irregular or shorter menstrual periods which are also common in older women because of an approaching menopause, also affects their chances for having a successful pregnancy. Other factors also include certain health issues like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. Chlamydia, which is a sexually-transmittable disease, can also affect a woman's fertility.

Pregnancy in older women may be more difficult, even not possible any more, but with other factors such as health condition which also plays an important role with their ability to conceive may shift their chances. Others would resort to fertility procedures or medications prescribed by doctors. While this area of medical advancement is now socially acceptable, some couples are still backed down by its costs.

There are many women in their late 30s and 40s who are still able to have children despite their age, what they should realise though is that keeping tabs and keeping up with good health can accelerate their chances of still getting pregnant. The healthier a woman is the better chances she gets at successfully having a baby or babies.