Over 35 and trying for a baby

 
We’ve all heard about the ‘biological clock’ that ticks away for women. The reason for this is that we’re born with a pre-determined number of eggs, which means that hormone production only lasts a certain number of years.

On top of that, with each decade that passes the quality of the eggs decreases. The timetable for this is naturally different for each woman.

Women in their thirties and forties are likely to have a healthy baby but they do face more complications. The risk of bearing a child with chromosomal abnormalities increases as a woman ages, the most common of these disorders being Down syndrome. The rate of miscarriage in women who are older is also significantly higher (this again can be linked to chromosomal abnormalities). While women over 35 have more difficulty in conceiving, they also have more chance of having twins, as the likelihood of naturally conceiving twins peaks between the ages of 35 and 39.

All these facts may seem daunting but it is worth remembering that since the late 1970s birth rates for women in their late thirties and forties have increased dramatically. As long as your overall health is good, there is no reason why you can’t continue to have babies well into your forties. For a man, although the quality of his sperm may go down, he can still conceive a healthy child well into his eighties and nineties.

The general rule of thumb is, if conception hasn’t taken place after six months of trying, women aged 35 or over should consult their physician.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.