Woman's child-bearing years

What are a woman's child-bearing years and how late can you wait to get pregnant?

A woman's child-bearing years are those years when a woman is able to become pregnant. This period of fertility generally spans from adolescence to menopause. In the past five years, however, we have seen the upper age limit pushed higher and higher as women use assisted methods of reproduction. In these cases, postmenopausal women have carried pregnancies to term using eggs donated by younger women. The ability to conceive decreases with age, while the likelihood of having an abnormal pregnancy increases with age.

There never seems to be a "perfect" time to get pregnant. Somehow, most people just know when it seems right. It's best to start before age 35 whenever possible to avoid the significant fall in fertility that occurs at age 40. On the other hand, some women don't even consider pregnancy until well into their 40's, after they have established their careers and have the financial means to support a family.

Only you know what's best for you. But keep in mind that the older you are, the harder it is to conceive. Even assisted reproduction, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), is less successful after age 40. As a result, more and more women are using eggs donated by younger women to become pregnant through IVF.

Stay well!

Labels: Later-age pregnancy