Age 30+ - is it late to get pregnant? .

Female fertility and pregnancy after 30

The best time for female fertility is from the late teens to the late twenties. After the age of 30, the ability to get pregnant decreases markedly. This decline becomes more rapid once the middle of the third decade is reached. Fertility drops dramatically after the age of 35, which is associated with a decrease in ovarian reserve.

Women begin life with a fixed number of ova (oocytes) in their ovaries. Their pool peaks during foetal life - between 6 and 8 million (20-week-old foetus). After birth, the number of oocytes drops to 1-2 million and only 300,000 - 500,000 oocytes remain at puberty. A woman in her 30s has about 100,000 - 150,000 oocytes. By the age of 35, the reserve decreases to 80 000 oocytes. Just before the age of 40, their level can drop enormously - to 25 000 or even 10000 .

In addition, the remaining egg cells in older women are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes. This is why the risk of having a baby with genetic defects increases with age. Late pregnancies are also more prone to miscarriages. For example, at the age of 35, the risk of miscarriage is around 20 per cent. At the age of 40 years this risk is already around 40 per cent . Problems getting pregnant after 30 years of age may be due to a reduction in the quality of the egg cells. Passing 30 does not, of course, rule out the chances of pregnancy, but it may take longer to conceive.

Female age and risk of disease

As women age, they are more susceptible to disorders that can affect fertility. One of these is endometriosiswhich is caused by the growth of the endometrium outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis impedes embryo implantation, and can cause infertility. As many as 75% patients are women aged between 30 and 40 years .

Infertility can also occur as a consequence of uterine fibroids or premature ovarian failure (POI). It is an abnormal and irreversible condition that occurs in women before the age of 40. Causes include:

• disease Hashimoto's,

• diabetes,
• or chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The risk also increases with age hormonal disorders. Some of these, including hypothyroidism, can contribute to ovulation disorders and, consequently, infertility. If this is the case, appropriate pharmacological treatment should restore fertility.

Trying to have a baby after 30 - how to increase your chances?

While there is no way to increase your egg count, there are steps you can take to try to improve your fertility and prepare for pregnancy even after the age of 35. Here are some general tips to potentially help boost your fertility and allow you to get pregnant faster at 30.:

• give up drinking alcohol and smoking,

• achieve a healthy weight (being overweight or underweight can negatively affect fertility),
• avoid stress,
• ensure a restful night's sleep,

• keep fit - but don't overdo it - regular, moderate training is best,

• add wholesome foods to your diet, rich in nutrients, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid,

• avoid fast food, trans fats and simple sugars,

• limit your caffeine intake,

• regularly visit your gynaecologist and get yourself tested,

• monitor your cycle.

Sticking to these simple rules will not only help to improve oocyte quality and prolong fertility, but is also an essential step to having a healthy baby after 35.

What tests should be done before pregnancy after the age of 35?

Infertility in your thirties can be caused by:

• genetic diseases,

• endocrine disruptors,
• defects of the reproductive organs,
• sexually transmitted diseases

or it can be unexplained (idiopathic).

If, after a year of trying for a baby, you are still not pregnant, do not hesitate to a visit to a specialist. In many cases, appropriate diagnosis and treatment are able to restore fertility and the chance to become pregnant. after the age of 35.

Evaluation of ovarian reserve based on the level of the hormone AMHas well as a study the hormone FSH and LH will help to assess fertility. The number of follicles can also be assessed by transvaginal ultrasound. On the other hand, if you have already succeeded in conceiving a child, your doctor will recommend careful observation and pregnancy tests after the age of 35, including prenatal tests. This is important because the risk of genetic defects in the child increases after the age of 35. For women aged 25, the probability of Down's syndrome is about 1 in 1,250. If you are over 35, the risk increases to 1 in 400.

How to get pregnant after 35 through IVF?

In vitro fertilisation can also restore hope for the desired offspring. If other methods of treatment have failed, or if drug or surgical treatment is not possible for other reasons, the doctor may suggest in vitro. Importantly, effectiveness IVF also depends on age. At the InviMed clinic, as many as 65% patients under the age of 35 become mothers after the first IVF cycle. In contrast, 60% women aged between 35 and 39 enjoy a happy solution after the first cycle of fertilisation.

Baby after 30 - the norm in developed countries

After 30, chances of getting pregnant are still high. The ovaries are still producing high quality ova, although the number of ova inevitably decreases. So crossing the third decade does not rule out the chances of motherhood.

In the US, 1 in 5 women become pregnant and have their first child by the age of 35. In the European Union, the average age at birth of the first child is 29.4 years (data from 02.2021). In some countries, such as Italy, Spain and Ireland, the average age of first pregnancy has exceeded 30. In all EU countries, this average is gradually going up.

A first pregnancy after 30 is therefore not a rare occurrence. Despite this, it is worth remembering that a woman in her 30s is half as fertile as she was in her 20s.

Substantive consultation:

Piotr Lachowski, MD - Specialist gynaecologist-obstetrician