Have you got baby fever in your 45’s? Here’s what you need to know about becoming pregnant at this age.
Starting a family after your 40’s is not wrong. These days birth rates are on rise for older women as there is no perfect time to take the blessings of motherhood.
However, you may have heard several times that mid-life pregnancies can bring various complications. This might send you into a belief that it’s not the right age to have a baby.
The truth of the matter is that many women are having babies in their 40s either through natural pregnancy or through fertility treatments.
Chances of getting a natural pregnancy in 45’s:
Worrying about your ticking biological clock is natural when you reach your 40’s. The data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [ CDC] showed that 30% of women between 40 and 45 experience infertility.
Infertility issues can reduce your chances of conceiving through natural pregnancy. This decline can happen due to various reasons, including:
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- Low egg count
Ovarian reserve is used to describe the number of left eggs in a woman’s ovary.. Declining ovarian reserves is a consequence of normal aging. Women at the age of 45 have around 5,000 eggs in reserves. This number of eggs is quite low as compared to the number of eggs in their 20’s or 30’s. The chances are high that you may run out of eggs with an increase in age.
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- Egg quality
Women in their 40s have 80-90% chances of developing genetically abnormal eggs. These genetically abnormal eggs are less likely to fertilize in the uterine lining.
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- Perimenopause
Perimenopausal refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of reproductive years. The chances of a pregnancy decline when you enter the perimenopausal phase.
Risks involved in becoming pregnant at 45:
pregnancy at 45 is infrequent and can put mother and baby at risk. There can be incidences of abortions, miscarriages, or chromosomal abnormalities.At times, these risk factors can cause potential health risks for you and your baby. The most common risk factors are:
Risk of birth defects due to poor egg quality:
Egg quality can decline with your age. As a consequence of the age-based decline in egg quality, some of the eggs released by the ovaries will not be viable for fertilization or can have chromosome abnormalities.
Risk of miscarriages or ectopic pregnancy:
Old women are at a high risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. The risk of miscarriages is around 25% in women above 35 years, and it reaches more than 90% in women above 45.
Moreover, these women are also at a high risk of ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy outside a woman’s womb. The risk of ectopic pregnancy rises due to certain factors like pelvic infection or problems with fallopian tubes.
Women over the age of 40 are 3-6 times more likely to develop gestational diabetes compared to women aged 20-29. Gestational diabetes can pose a higher risk for potential complications for both mother and baby.
Risk of high blood pressure:
The risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension is generally high in older mothers. This can lead to a higher risk of developing a condition called pre-eclampsia, which is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure. If left untreated, it can cause potential damage to the mother and the baby.
These risk factors may hinder your path of becoming pregnant at the age of 45. However, there are several treatment options available for you. These are helpful in case you are finding it difficult to conceive naturally.
Methods to follow to get blessed with motherhood at 45:
If you are trying to conceive in your 45’s then you should consider certain fertility treatments. Your chances of getting a natural pregnancy usually decline at this age. However, there are certain Advanced Reproductive Techniques [ ART] that can improve your odds of becoming pregnant.
IVF:
IVF is the primary treatment for older women who are having difficulty conceiving. The rate of implantation is lower in older women. Therefore, in IVF, more than one egg is transferred back to the uterus which can enhance your chances of conceiving.
How does the process of IVF work for older women?:
In IVF, fertility medication is administered to stimulate a woman’s egg or oocyte production. The eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries and combined with sperm in a laboratory for fertilization. The embryos are then transferred to a woman’s uterus.
Doctors performing IVF normally wait until the oocytes follicle reaches 19-21mm. It can lead to increased production of good-quality embryos and higher success rates.
Egg freezing:
Egg freezing is the process of preserving the reproductive potentials of a woman. In this method, a woman’s eggs are harvested from the ovaries and are frozen and stored to be used later. It is a safe and helpful procedure and suitable for women who want to have a child late in their lives.
Tips to get healthy pregnancy at 45:
Your pregnancy in 45 can be as normal as that of a younger woman. But for that, you should take care of yourself and follow certain tips. The below-mentioned tips will help you get a healthy and safe pregnancy.
- If you are trying to conceive, check with your doctor if any testing or medication is needed
- See your doctor regularly during pregnancy and follow all his recommendations.
- Eat well and follow a healthy pregnancy diet
- Stay hydrated
- Take your prenatal vitamins daily
- Gain the recommended amount of weight
Vardaan Medical Center: Best IVF Center in Punjab5:
Vardaan Medical Center is known for its top-class fertility treatment. Our experienced and well-qualified team of IVF specialists in Punjab handles all fertility cases with complete care. You can talk to them and share your concerns to get the desired results.
Visit our IVF center and fulfill your dream of becoming a parent
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Frequently Asked Question:
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