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Am I Too Old to Start a Family?
Although biologically, women should be between 20-24 to have children. However, this coincides with starting college and getting your first job. This is not a good time to start a family. It is possible to not know what your future plans are, let alone how to find the right person to share responsibility for your baby's care. Technology and research in fertility have improved, which has opened up new options for you to start a family. You can do it naturally or get some help from science or fertility products for women. Or, consider other options like adoption, which does not require pregnancy. Your personal circumstances, health, and desire to have children will determine if you are old enough to start a family. Although female fertility declines with age, it is not an absolute no/no. What other people tell is the same.
A Few Things You Should Remember
Since the 1970s, the average age of first-time parents is steadily rising. In the 1970s, the average first-time mother was 21 years old. Today, she is 26. The average age of the first-time father has increased from 27 to 31. Half of all women say they delay having children because they cannot afford it. It is costly to have a child. According to the USDA, parents spend $13,000 per child annually. Couples are waiting to be financially secure before they have children because of rising healthcare costs and high housing prices.
Although you might have more money as you get older, it's important to also consider your energy levels and overall health as you get older. You may be 40 when your child is born, but you'll be 58 by the time your child turns 18. As you age, your child might have to deal with your declining health. The Sandwich Generation is a group of people who care for both their parents and their young children. It can be exhausting.
Get Ready
You and your partner will decide when you're ready to have a baby. However, you can start taking steps to prepare your body for pregnancy at any age. Stop smoking and drinking too much caffeine. Get enough sleep and exercise. Consider taking fertility supplements and vitamins. These suggestions may increase your chances for a healthy pregnancy. However, egg health is the most important indicator. This is partly determined by your genetics and age.
Know Your Risks
Although you may be biologically capable of having a healthy pregnancy until the time you reach menopause, it is important to understand that there are risks involved in getting pregnant after 35. This is what the medical community calls "geriatric pregnancy".
- Infertility
Females have all the eggs they will ever need when they are born. As we age, both the quantity and quality of our eggs decrease. If a woman is having regular unprotected sexual relations, her chances of getting pregnant are 25% in her 20s. However, this chance drops to 3% by the time she turns 30. It is important to remember that infertility can strike at any time, regardless of age.
- Miscarriage
Women in their 30s are more likely than others to miscarry because they have lower egg quality. Higher rates of miscarriage are also associated with older women who have diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity.
- Chromosomal Issues
Due to declining egg health, chromosomal problems in the baby are more common, leading to developmental issues and congenital abnormalities such as Down syndrome and neural tube defects.
Other risks of geriatric pregnancies
- Probability of more than one
- Higher rates of gestational diabetics
- High blood pressure
- Lower birth weight
- Increased chance of C-section
Talk to your doctor
Regular appointments are important when you're pregnant. It's even more important if your age is over 35. Many insurance companies consider those over 35 to be Advanced Maternal Age (AMA). They offer additional testing and can provide you with access. You can schedule a preconception appointment with your doctor if you are considered AMA.
- Are you suffering from any pre-existing conditions that could make it more difficult to have a baby?
- What lifestyle changes are you able to make in order to increase your fertility?
- Are there any time-saving tips or treatments that can increase your chances of conceiving?
- How can prenatal vitamins and fertility supplements increase your chances of conceiving?
- They would recommend what preconception testing they recommend.
If you're over 35 and trying to conceive for at least six months, talk to your doctor.
Egg Freezing
The egg quality can control many issues that may arise during pregnancy for women over 35 years old, including miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities and miscarriage. Technology can help with low egg quality. Although egg freezing can't guarantee a healthy pregnancy, it can increase the chances of having one after 35. To stimulate multiple eggs, the process is similar to IVF. After the eggs have been tested and an ovarian ultrasound confirmed that they are ready, you will be sedated and the eggs (generally 15 eggs) are removed using a needle. They can then either be frozen or fertilized by sperm, and then frozen again. Your eggs can then be frozen and placed in your uterus when you are ready to have a baby.
The success rate of a pregnancy depends on many factors. You have a 30--60% chance of conception. The cost of freezing eggs can be costly. The cost to harvest the eggs and freeze them costs around $10,000. You will also need to pay a $600 storage fee each year. It will cost you about $5,000 to freeze and thaw your eggs.
Other Options to Starting A Family
There are options for those over 35 who are having difficulty getting pregnant. These options will vary depending on your circumstances.
- IUI
- IVF
- IVF and egg donation
- Surrogacy
- Embryo adoption
- Adoption
Respect The Journey
Although the journey to start a family can be more difficult as you age, you don't have to go it alone. You and your partner are the only ones who can decide if you're ready. There are many factors that will impact your decision. No matter how you have started your family naturally, or whether you chose another option, you are still a family.
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