It is becoming more common for women to delay marriage and childbearing until much later in their lives for so many reasons, including career, finding the right partner, or just waiting till they are emotionally and mentally ready. However, for many women that consider giving pregnancy a shot in their 40s, there are common concerns: what are my chances, and are my risks higher?
First, you should note that a woman can get pregnant in her 40s, but the chances are much lower because of the drop in egg volume and quality. Therefore, she is more likely to require assisted reproductive technologies than a younger woman, and the success of these procedures is lower as a woman gets older.
When a woman does get pregnant in her 40s, she has to deal with higher risks of certain pregnancy-related issues:
Pregnancy Loss: While miscarriages can occur at any age, older women are more likely to experience it. The risk of miscarriages increases considerably after the age of 35. Reasons may include the increased risk of genetic problems in the unborn baby.
Genetic problems in the baby: The risk of all genetic abnormalities increases with the age of the woman. One of the reasons for this is the declining quality of her eggs, as most of the eggs at this time are vulnerable to damage and errors in cell division. A common genetic problem that comes with advanced maternal age is Down Syndrome.
Ectopic pregnancy: Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the womb. Women above the age of 35 have a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, although it can happen at any age. Ectopic pregnancy is an emergency and the improperly implanted baby must be evacuated immediately to save the mother’s life.
Stillbirth: The risk of stillbirth is more than three times higher in women in their 40s than in younger women. This may be because of the higher risk of genetically abnormal babies and the higher risk of health challenges in an older woman.
Pregnancy-induced hypertension: The risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension is much higher in older mothers. This condition could lead to serious complications that could be fatal for the mother and the baby.
So with this myriad of health risks, can a woman still have a healthy pregnancy in her 40s? Absolutely! However, it may just require seeing your doctor early on in your pregnancy to get the right care for you.
