Fertility After 40

Fertility after 40 is lower than at an earlier age. This, in turn, affects the ability to conceive and carry a child. Fertility rates directly depend on the future mother’s health condition, as well as her lifestyle—absence of bad habits, physical fitness, and genetic heredity. There are several ways to determine fertility levels.

Fertility is an indicator of a woman’s ability to conceive and carry a child. Fertility after 40 is significantly lower than at, say, 25. This is because this indicator is very susceptible to various factors: nutrition, physical activity, and stressful situations. To determine the fertility level, the best option is to consult a doctor for appropriate tests. 

Fertility Features After 40

In today’s reality, many women prefer to give birth at an older age. This decision is complex in nature. Among other things, it is associated with economic, psychological, and many other reasons. Considering that pregnancy and childbirth place a huge burden on all organs and systems of the maternal body, fertility after 40 is also affected.  

Be prepared for the fact that at this age, pregnancy and childbirth are associated with higher risks. Women aged 20 to 35 have better quality eggs and a much lower chance of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Approaching 35, various risks increase, and after 40, fertility becomes significantly lower. 

At this age, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus also increases. This can include Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or rare diseases. Yes, the risk rises, but it is not a 100% guarantee that the fetus will have genetic anomalies. Thanks to modern, high-precision, and safe testing methods, this is easily preventable.

After 35, it becomes harder for women to conceive without assistance and active stimulation. It’s important to remember that fertility after 40 depends on many factors. Here, the overall condition of the prospective mother’s body and the absence of any pathologies play a more significant role than age itself. 

Factors Affecting Fertility Levels

Fertility varies at different life stages. The rates start to decrease after 32, and at this age, the chances of natural pregnancy are only 30%. By comparison, at 25, the likelihood of conceiving naturally is about 85%. 

The level of fertility after 40 in women depends on a multitude of factors:

• overall health condition;
• active sports activities;
• genetic and hereditary factors;
• susceptibility to stress;
• harmful habits, including smoking and alcohol;
• condition of the immune system;
• susceptibility to autoimmune diseases;
• environmental factors, ecology;
• previous surgical interventions.

To have a clear picture of the body’s condition, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist to assess reproductive capabilities. The doctor will also determine fertility levels for women over 40. This type of examination involves an ultrasound, tests for FSH, LH, AMH, and other hormones, and a visit with a reproductive specialist.

Ultrasound examination focuses on studying oocyte maturation. Hormonal levels are compared with follicular structural tissue. The attending physician additionally evaluates the condition of the endometrium, the patency of the fallopian tubes, and analyzes other indicators of the female reproductive system. To complete the picture, clarifying questions about the menstrual cycle are asked. 

Home tests do not have the level of accuracy required for pregnancy planning. Typically, ovulation tests are needed to identify the fertility window. This is the period when there is the highest chance of becoming pregnant, usually 5 days before and 1-2 days after ovulation. Many women also use a women’s calendar for this purpose. 

How to Increase Fertility Levels

First and foremost, to increase fertility after 40, it is necessary to eliminate factors that negatively affect this measure. One should get rid of bad habits, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and adhere to proper nutrition. Special attention should be paid to managing stress levels. Do not forget about mandatory preventive check-ups with a doctor — these should be conducted at least once a year. 

block not found

If, after 1 year of actively trying to conceive, it does not happen, this is already an indicator of low fertility after the age of 40. Therefore, the first step is to consult a reproductive specialist, who can carry out the necessary tests and provide appropriate recommendations. 

In the absence of severe factors reducing fertility after 40, thanks to timely treatment, natural pregnancy often occurs within a year from the start of therapy.  

Quite often, issues with the cycle and conception are caused by psychological factors. If fertility is reduced due to medical indicators, the optimal option would be to use assisted reproductive technologies. 

How to get pregnant during the fertile period

Very often, couples planning to conceive a child ask about the days when it is possible to get pregnant. Many are convinced that the best day for conception is the day of ovulation. It’s important to note that there is a possibility of pregnancy both before and after ovulation — it all depends on fertility levels after 40. 

Attention should also be paid to the fertility window — this is the period of the menstrual cycle where the likelihood of getting pregnant is highest. It begins 5 days before ovulation and ends a few days after it. 

The fertile period is calculated considering that sperm activity is maintained for 5 days. Therefore, fertilization can result from intercourse that occurs during this period. A good option would be to keep a separate women’s calendar to mark ovulation days. 

To determine the best days for conceiving a child, you can use the following methods:

• Measuring basal body temperature. Measure it every morning in the rectum. If the temperature rises to 37 degrees, this indicates ovulation;
• Tracking cervical mucus. During the fertile period after 40, it becomes more abundant, and its consistency changes — it becomes stretchy and resembles egg white;
• Tracking with a women’s calendar. Calculation is based on the menstrual cycle. This method is one of the least accurate, as every body is individual;
• Ovulation tests. These can be purchased at the pharmacy. They work similarly to pregnancy tests. The procedure should be done daily. Start conducting tests 5 days before the expected ovulation.

Apart from the above methods, it is possible to determine the favorable days for conceiving a child using an ultrasound examination. After identifying the fertile days, a woman significantly increases her chances of becoming pregnant in the current menstrual cycle. Regardless of fertility levels after 40 years, fertile days are the most favorable period for pregnancy. 

In fact, a woman of reproductive age, in the absence of gynecological diseases, is capable of becoming pregnant on any day, including during menstruation. This is possible under the following conditions:

• the duration of critical days is less than 21: ovulation may occur 3-7 days after the last day of menstruation (days can be tracked using a women’s calendar);
• the duration of menstruation is more than 7 days;
• absence of a regular cycle, making it almost impossible to predict the days of ovulation;
• presence of intermenstrual bleeding that resembles menstruation;
• simultaneous maturation of several eggs;

Spontaneous ovulation may occur quite rarely. It is usually associated with a burst of hormones due to irregular sexual activity. Thus, regardless of fertility levels after 40 years, there is always a chance of conceiving a child. In this matter, it is better not to focus on age, but rather pay more attention to the overall condition of the body.

A big advantage is that fertility after 40 can be influenced. If one adheres to a healthy lifestyle, gives up bad habits, monitors the body’s condition, and is regularly examined by their doctor, then fertility levels can be brought back to normal. This means there is a high probability of successful conception and pregnancy, regardless of age.