Although the probability of getting pregnant after the age of 40 is lower, this is possible and can be safe if the woman follows all the care that the doctor recommends, taking prenatal care with all the necessary exams.
At this age, a woman who becomes pregnant needs to be seen by a doctor more frequently and appointments can take place 2 to 3 times a month and she still needs to undergo more specific tests to assess both her health and that of her baby.
1. Is getting pregnant at 40 dangerous?
Getting pregnant at age 40 can be more dangerous than getting pregnant in early adulthood. The risks of getting pregnant at age 40 include:
- Increased chances of developing gestational diabetes
- Increased chances of having eclampsia, which consists of high blood pressure typical of pregnancy;
- Greater chances of miscarriage;
- Greater risk of the baby having a disability;
- Greater risk of the baby being born before 38 weeks of gestation.
Find out more details about the risks of getting pregnant after 40.
2. What is the probability of getting pregnant at age 40?
Although the chances of a woman being able to get pregnant at the age of 40 are lower than those of being able to get pregnant at 20, they are not non-existent. If a woman has not yet entered menopause and does not have any disease that affects the reproductive system, she still has a chance of getting pregnant.
What can make pregnancy difficult at 40 is the fact that eggs no longer respond as well to the hormones responsible for ovulation, due to age. As the eggs age, there is a greater chance of having a miscarriage and of the baby suffering from a genetic disease, such as Down syndrome, for example.
3. When should I take treatments to get pregnant after the age of 40?
If after a few attempts the woman is unable to get pregnant, she can opt for assisted fertilization techniques or adopt a child. Some techniques that can be used when natural pregnancy does not occur are:
- Ovulation induction;
- In vitro fertilization;
- Artificial insemination.
These treatments are indicated when the couple is unable to get pregnant alone after 1 year of trying. They are a good alternative for those who have difficulty getting pregnant but they can also be quite exhausting as with each passing year the woman’s chances of getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy are reduced and each of these treatments should only be carried out once a year.
Tips to get pregnant faster
To get pregnant faster, it is important to have sex during the fertile period, because this is the time when the chances of getting pregnant are greatest. To find out when your next fertile period is, enter your details:
Furthermore, other tips that can help are:
- Carry out a check-up before trying to get pregnant;
- Check fertility rate through a blood test to check FSH and/or estradiol levels at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Levels of these hormones may suggest that the ovaries no longer respond to the hormones that induce ovulation;
- Start taking folic acid about 3 months before trying to get pregnant;
- Avoid stress and anxiety;
- Practice physical exercise regularly and eat well.
