There are many reasons why women wait until after age 35 to begin building their family. Reaching personal milestones, including the ability to provide a secure, stable, loving environment for their family may rank high on that list. However, for women over 35 there may physical challenges which stand in the way of this personal miracle. Luckily there are solutions which can make that dream a reality.
Why is it so difficult?
- There are only so many eggs in one basket. A woman is born with over a million eggs, but by the time she begins having periods, the number of eggs is down to around 300,000.1 Not every cycle produces an egg, and some of those which are released are not viable. For older women, this leaves only a few cycles where the stars align to produce the right egg at the right time.
- Eggs have a shelf life. After age 35 a woman may still have many eggs remaining, but they are more likely to have chromosomal issues. While a woman in her 20s has a 20% chance of getting pregnant in a given cycle, her chances of getting pregnant drop to 15% in the mid-30s, down to 3% by age 45.2 This reduction in egg quality continues as a woman ages and is a primary cause of lowered success rates.
- Eggs are fragile. As women grow older, they are more likely to sustain injuries or develop health problems that impact their fertility. Caffeine, alcohol, smoking, past surgeries, and health problems such as diabetes all have negative impacts on fertility.3 Getting pregnant over 35 may require expert help if you have been trying for more than 6 months.
- Pregnancy is harder. Recent studies, however, have shown that women who postpone childbearing do face some special risks, including: infertility and miscarriage, premature delivery and stillbirth, gestational diabetes, bleeding complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, C-section, chromosomal abnormalities in babies, growth retardation in babies, and delivering multiples.4
Beating the odds
If you’ve been trying to conceive for more than 6 months and you are over 35, experts agree that now is the time to investigate your options. With medical help, women between 35 and 40 can produce healthy eggs to be stored for future attempts or used for surrogate procedures. There is still time to build a family with the right guidance and resources.
One of the best options may be to select a young, healthy surrogate parent to provide an ideal start for your child. Surrogacy is an established, time-honored solution and we are ready to provide all of the information you need to make the best decision in this challenging situation.
How do I find a surrogate?
From careful selection of candidates, rigorous screening, and a straightforward process that allows you to choose and meet your surrogate, we offer intended parents the ability to revive their dreams of building a family. We understand the issues and your possible concerns, and we offer a safe, secure, and supportive place to start.
If any of these challenges have affected your ability to start a family, we are here to help guide you through the journey to parenthood. Don’t give up, and don’t wait any longer to take a meaningful step toward creating a new life – for your child and for yourself.
Sources
- https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive/up-your-chances-of-getting-pregnant-at-every-age/
- https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/pregnancy-chances-after-35#1
- http://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive-after-age-35/
- https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/age/pregnancy-after-35/pregnancy-risks-after-age-35/
Leave a Reply