While the biological clock is ticking silently, the woman’s fertility steadily declines. It is more difficult, almost impossible, to get pregnant after 35 than at age 20 or at 30 plus. Even the healthiest women experience reduction of their fertility level. Age also raises the risk of miscarriage. Thankfully, medicine has made huge progress in solving both these problems. Our article will inform you about infertility of women after 35, its causes, risk factors, and ways to improve your fertility after 35. It is possible to get pregnant and carry a baby even after age 35! Your age should not prevent you from being a happy mother.

 

Age and infertility

Fertility is the natural capability of giving life. Infertility, therefore, is the consequence of a low rate of fertility. For women over 35, infertility is the inability to conceive and carry a baby after 6 months of active contraceptive-free intercourse. It can be triggered by various causes.

Ovaries are an essential part of the woman’s reproductive system. They are a pair of reproductive organs, which produce ova (egg cells) and female sex hormones. Ovarian function is directly linked to a woman's age. The ability of the ovaries to produce and release healthy egg cells diminishes with age; therefore women’s ability to conceive and bear a child decreases.

 

When the woman is in her mother's womb (about 20 weeks old) she has more than 7 million egg cells. At birth, the number of them is decreased to about 2 million. By the time of her first menstrual cycle, the woman has only about 3,000 eggs left. Only 300 of them reach the maturity and can be ovulated. Woman’s fertility reaches its peak between ages 18-20. The decrease of the egg cells continues even during the pregnancy.

When the woman is about 28- 29 years old she starts to lose egg cells faster, and by the time she is 35 the rate of loss of egg cells is increased sharply. By the time the woman is 40 years old, the rate of dying egg cells is extremely rapid.

As the woman ages, especially when she is 33 to 39, her fertility drops dramatically. The blood supply to ovaries decreases, which affects the number and quality of egg cells. When health problems appear, ovulation becomes irregular, hormone level (estrogen and progesterone) decreases, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in a child increases.

Reduction of egg cells and ovary illnesses: age has a negative impact on the number and quality of egg cells in woman’s ovaries. In addition, ovaries start having problems with the production and release of egg cells.

Reduction of blood flow to the ovaries: Rich blood supply is important for the proper functioning of the organ. Women of climacteric age have less blood supply to the ovaries, as in their youth.

Unstable hormone level: Reduction of hormones influences the woman’s ability to conceive. When the woman ages, her hormone level (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone) decreases. It has a direct influence on her ability to conceive and bear a child.

Cervical mucus: It is secreted by the mucosa layer of the cervical canal. Fertile mucus helps guide the sperm freely inside the cervix into the uterus. On average, sperm can live 3 to 5 days, or more inside a 20-year old woman. With advancing age, this period reduces dramatically, and makes up one day.

Other health problems include uterine abnormalities, fibroid tumors and other illnesses which can cause infertility. In addition to that, after 35 the risk of endometriosis is high. Endometriosis is a medical condition when endometrial-like cells appear on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and other organs of the reproductive system. Injuries of fallopian tubes can lead to infertility. The dysfunction of the fallopian tubes can prevent the egg cells from reaching the uterus, which hinders fertilization.

Some chronic diseases and pharmaceuticals can also have a negative impact on woman’s fertility.

Unknown reasons: One or two main causes of infertility are usually revealed during a medical examination. However, it is impossible to determine them in some cases.

Ovulation disorder: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of the ovulation disorder. About 40 percent to 80 percent of women with PCOS have fertility problems. About 8 or 10 percent of women of childbearing age are affected by PCOS.

How to increase your chances of conceiving

It is possible to improve your chances of conceiving and prevent miscarriages after age 35. Many factors can trigger infertility. Although it is impossible to eliminate some of them, the woman is able to diminish some factors, which are related to her lifestyle. It is important to understand, that conceiving depends on health, first of all. You should set a goal – improve your physical and emotional health, get rid of bad habits and avoid stressful situations. Experts say that if a woman is in harmony with herself, her organism responds well to the reproductive therapy.

 

Start with changing your daily routine. Pay special attention to your diet, habits, sport exercises, trips, stress factors, relaxation techniques, relaxation with your partner, sleep regime, regularity of your sexual life, etc. Avoid products with high fat content, alcohol, caffeine and smoking. These factors reduce your chances of conceiving and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Physicians recommend having the hormone level measured; it includes testing of progesterone, estrogen and thyroid hormones levels. The liver is cleansed of toxins if necessary. It is also highly recommended to eat a balanced diet and chart your menstrual cycle in order to reveal the disorders. The woman’s partner should learn various relaxation techniques, so that to help her to relieve stress.