Planning to conceive a baby can be exciting but daunting at the same time. As the doctors suggest, The chances of a successful pregnancy keep decreasing with age. Only about 44% of women aged above 40 are able to conceive a baby in a year.
With all these cases and reports, it becomes more difficult and confusing to decide what is the best age for pregnancy. So, here in this blog, we are going to cover almost all your doubts related to the ideal age of pregnancy and how age influences pregnancy
When Can a Woman Get Pregnant?
Basically, women can get pregnant anytime from the start of menstruation until , when they stop menstruating. Specifically, a woman can conceive or become pregnant if she has intercourse during her fertile period. The fertile period is usually the period of five days before ovulation.
However, Too early and too late both kinds of pregnancy have their complications. Generally, it is advised to avoid both kinds of these pregnancies.
This raises a new and the most asked question, Is there any ideal age to get pregnant and How can a woman decide which is the best time for their pregnancy?
What’s the best age to get pregnant?
To Answer this question, First, we need to understand the impact of age on women’s reproduction system and how age influences the chances of successful pregnancy
- How Does Age Affect Pregnancy?
A woman takes birth with a fixed normal of eggs (also known as oocytes). At the time of birth, a baby girl has around 2 million oocytes which keep declining every month. Unlike other body cells, a woman’s eggs can not be reproduced. At the age of 30, A woman remains with just around 1,00,000-1,50,000 eggs in their ovaries.
But that does not end here, it still keeps decreasing with age and remains around 25,000 to 15,000 in their 40s. Apart from the number of oocytes, the quality of these eggs also diminishes with time. The Decreased quality of eggs struggles to conceive a baby successfully.
It means that while it is possible to conceive a baby as soon as you start getting your menstrual periods, the chances of successful pregnancy decrease with time.
Here is the basic Data on what are the chances of successful pregnancy at different age
- The Chance of a successful pregnancy is about 18% when you are 25 years of age.
- If you are in your early 30s, the chances of conceiving a successful baby is about 16%
- There is a 12 to 15% of chances for pregnancy between the age of 35 to early 40
- After 40 years of age, The chances of getting a successful pregnancy is 7% or below that.
Considering the data, reports, and Biological factors of a woman’s reproduction system, The best time to get pregnant is the late 20s to early 30s which is age 25 to 30. However, This age criteria is not fixed and the ideal age may differ from person to person depending upon several more factors influencing the right pregnancy age.
Advantages and Disadvantages of pregnancy at different age
Early 20s to Early 30s (Aged between 20 to 34):
As mentioned, the age between the early 20s and early 30s is considered to be the best age to get pregnant. As the Numbers and quality of eggs are higher at this age, the likelihood of natural conception is higher and the risk of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia are relatively lower.
Additionally, the physical recovery after childbirth is quicker for women at this age.
Mid 30s to early 40s(Age between 35 to 40):
While delaying pregnancy from the age of 20 to 34 gives you the freedom to establish your career, build stable relationships, and seek financial security, the risk of natural fertility continuously declines. However, many women at this age conceive successfully and give birth to a baby. It means the age line between 35 and 40 is the second-best age to get pregnant.
The benefit of getting pregnant at this age is that you are mature enough to handle all kinds of situations and become Relationship-wise stable and financially secure at a certain level.
The Disadvantages or Consequences of considering this age for pregnancy are the risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome. Women of this age may have to take the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in case of natural pregnancy failure.
The late 40s and Beyond (Age from 41 to above):
The chances of a successful natural Pregnancy in the late 40s is less than 7% and the reason behind this pregnancy failure is the decreased quality and numbers of fertilizable eggs. At the age of 40, the average number of eggs available for fertilization in women is around 18,000 with decreased quality. This scenario makes it extremely difficult and challenging to conceive a baby at this age.
Pregnancy at this age often necessitates the use of ART (Assisted reproductive technologies) or donor eggs. Even after using ART and IVF, it carries a higher risk for both the mother and baby. The risks involved include High blood pressure, diabetes, preterm birth, and C-Section Birth.
What are the risks of getting pregnant in your late 40s and Beyond
Gestational diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Preeclampsia, Placenta Previa, Miscarriage, Premature Birth, and Stillbirth are some of the major risks of getting pregnant in your late 40s or after 40 years of age.
If you are planning to conceive a baby in your 40s and beyond, it is highly advisable to take a suggestion from the right gynecologist. They may help you with better chances of pregnancy and child planning.
Apart from above mentioned risks, Many women also face challenges like
- Heavy bleeding during and after delivery
- Low birth weight of the infant
- Need of Cesarean delivery
- Genetics Disorders etc
Conclusion
In conclusion, The best and ideal age to get pregnant is between early 20s to late 30s. But, The age is of course not fixed and depends on different individual factors such as Social and personal relationships, career and Financial security, Emotional and mental Maturity, etc. The best age to get pregnant is a matter of individual preference and Conceiving a baby at any age has its benefits and consequences.
Whether you want to conceive a baby in your early 20s or late 40s, it is highly recommended to seek advice and counseling from an expert in Gynaecology. They are experts in Pregnancy and equipped with the best knowledge and practices to provide you with the right option for your fertility and pregnancy needs. Thakur Hospital in karnal is one of the Best gynecologists in Karnal to seek advice. Feel free to reach out to us for any kind of pregnancy-related issue. We are here in Kernal to solve and minimize the risk of pregnancy.
