Many women desire motherhood at an advanced age, as they are tempted by the magic of raising children at a later stage in their lives, but the reality is, according to the newspaper “telegraph“British, indicates that delaying pregnancy until the age of forty “may complicate having children on various levels, especially with the decreasing chances of natural pregnancy.”
Gynecologist and former president of the British Fertility Society, Adam Palin, confirms this by saying: “The chances of monthly pregnancy after the age of forty become slim, as they do not exceed 5 percent.”
He adds: “For a couple of this age, a year of trying will provide a 35-40 percent chance of pregnancy at best.”
Palin stresses that natural pregnancy after the age of 45 is extremely rare, and this is due to low ovulation rates. The normal female ovary contains about 1-2 million eggs, but women do not make new eggs, but rather lose a number of them with each menstrual cycle.
According to Palin, reaching the age of 35 means entering the stage of “advanced motherhood.”
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The numbers confirm this, as a report issued in June 2023 by the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in the United Kingdom showed that IVF and donor insemination cycles increased by 10 percent between 2019 and 2021.
The report found, according to the British newspaper, that among women aged 40 years or older, donor eggs are often used to undergo artificial insemination.
According to the Telegraph, this is most common among women between the ages of 45 and 50, and the average pregnancy rates through artificial insemination were only 6 percent for women between the ages of 43 and 50 through their eggs.
Pregnancy after forty
If you want to become pregnant after the age of forty, Alison Murdoch, a reproductive specialist and president of the British Fertility Society, advises following specific steps under the supervision of a doctor to increase women’s chances of achieving this.
“If you’re older and have anything in your health history that might reduce your chances of getting pregnant, seek early advice,” Murdoch says.
She adds: “In practical terms, for example, if you have an infection in the fallopian tubes, do not leave it too long to find out if they are blocked. And if you are a man, get a sperm count test.”
Murdoch stresses the importance of general health for both partners, and advises following a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol consumption, not smoking, and losing weight if necessary.
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For his part, Palin advises, in addition to following a good diet, taking multivitamins before pregnancy, which should include folic acid.
But he says: “It’s all about egg health. While sperm quality begins to decline from the age of 40, fertility declines more slowly for men, and egg quality is more important than sperm.”
According to the Telegraph, if it turns out that the number of eggs is low in women, exploring the option of artificial insemination is one of the available matters, as it essentially boils down to using the woman’s own eggs, by stimulating the ovaries to produce eggs and fertilize them outside the uterus, then implanting the embryo, or obtaining It is obtained from a donor, and in vitro fertilization is also performed again.
However, it is important to note that artificial insemination is not a sure solution for a successful pregnancy. According to the newspaper, which quoted the National Health Service, the fertilization procedures for women using their eggs were successful at a rate of 11 percent for those aged 40-42 years, and 5 percent for those aged between 43-44 years, and 4 percent for those over 44 years of age.
Risks of pregnancy over the age of forty
Although older age doesn’t always mean it’s more difficult to get pregnant, there are risks associated with it. “There’s a higher rate of miscarriage because of the age of the eggs,” Murdoch says.
She adds: “Pregnancy is often lost before week 24, and the cause is often chromosomal problems in the fetus.”
Older women are also more likely to suffer from some cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, which is one of the reasons why women over the age of forty are more likely to suffer from preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, according to Murdoch, noting that “there is also a greater chance of developing placenta previa.” Previa (vaginal bleeding), where the placenta partially or completely covers the cervix, which may increase the risk of premature birth and stillbirth.”
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However, Geoffrey Ahmed, a consultant gynecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, who last year delivered a baby to a 57-year-old mother, says that giving birth to a 40-year-old mother is a risk, but it is important to keep things under control.
He adds: “In general, the risks of everything increase as you get older, so take everything with caution, especially if you are fit and healthy. The vast majority of women who become pregnant at the age of 40 will go through a completely healthy pregnancy and birth.”
How does age affect birth?
According to the newspaper, older mothers are more likely to undergo a caesarean section or some kind of intervention during labor, as this is because, with greater focus on potential risks, any urgent interventions are planned in advance.
“Labour reduction is now routinely recommended for women of advanced age,” warns Ahmed, adding that the recommended gestation period for older mothers now ranges between 39 and 40 weeks maximum.
“Many institutions will also recommend monitoring labor in a more precise manner, with a lower likelihood of a vaginal birth,” he explains.
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