Today more than ever, women are facing problems with fertility over 35. Approximately 1 in 5 women has their first child after age 35, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Fertility over 35 is a tough hurdle for many women. In fact, they have just a 35 percent chance of conceiving in the first year of trying to get pregnant.
If you’re over 35 and haven’t been able to conceive within 6 months of trying, it’s recommended that you seek the help of a fertility specialist.
Why does age affect fertility over 35?
A woman’s fertility typically begins to decline in her early 30s. A woman is born with a finite number of eggs and as she ages, the number of eggs rapidly decreases.
Ovulation, when the egg is released from the ovary, tends to slow down and occur less frequently over time. This is a natural occurrence in preparation for menopause. However, it also makes fertility over 35 more challenging.
There are also health issues that are more common in women over 35 that can interfere with pregnancy, including:
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Blocked fallopian tubes
- Uterine cysts
Twins and multiples are more likely after 35
The chance of giving birth to twins or multiples increases as you age. The odds increase naturally with age but could also be due to the high number of older women who seek treatment for fertility over 35.
In 2006, almost 5 percent of births among women over 35 were twins. That number increases to almost 20 percent for women over 45. Comparatively, only 2 percent of women ages 20 to 24 had twins.
Are babies at a greater risk for birth defects?
As the eggs decrease in quality with time they are at greater risk of mutations in the cell division process.
Because of the higher number of decreased quality eggs, the chances are greater for an egg with chromosomal abnormalities to be fertilized.
The most common chromosomal abnormality is Down syndrome. This disorder affects about 1 in 400 babies born to mothers 35-39. In comparison, the risk of a 25-29 year old mother is 1 in 1250.
Other risks to older women include babies born with various degrees of mental retardation or physical defects.
Do you have greater risk of miscarriage or pregnancy complications?
There is a greater chance for women over 35 to have a miscarriage. This is due in part to the fact that they have more eggs with chromosomal abnormalities. About 20 percent of pregnancies to women 35-39 end in miscarriage. Only 10 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage for women in their 20s.
You also have a greater chance of pregnancy complications such as:
- Higher risk of cesarean section. Approximately 41 percent of 35-39 year old women had a c-section compared to only 27 percent of those between ages of 20-24.
- Gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes develops during pregnancy and puts the mother at risk for having a very large baby. These babies are also more likely to have health problems. The chance of developing gestational diabetes increases by 50 percent for women over 35.
- High blood pressure: Pregnancy induced hypertension is more common in women over 35. Patients need to be monitored closely. Preeclampsia, the most severe form of hypertension, can be extremely dangerous for mother and baby.
- Placenta previa: Women over 35 are more likely to develop this condition where the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. This can cause severe bleeding, thereby endangering the mother and baby.
- Premature birth/ low birth weight: Mothers ages 35 and older seem to have a greater risk of having a premature or low birth weight baby. The chances increase the most for women over 40.
Sources: American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Age and Fertility. A Guide for Patients. IntegraMed: Can we wait to get pregnancy? National Vital Statistics Reports: Births: Final Date for 2006
