What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your 40s?
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Are you in your 40s and wondering whether it is too late to start a family? Perhaps you have been trying to get pregnant but have struggled to conceive or maintain a pregnancy.
In this blog post, we are following on from our previous blog posts on the subject of enhancing fertility naturally, especially for those in their 40s. However, in this blog post we specifically focus on what the odds of pregnancy are for women in their 40s and will discuss some of the things you can do to boost your fertility.
Being a naturopathic doctor based in New York City, I have worked with many couples to conceive naturally at a later age so this is a topic I definitely have much experience with!
Understanding the Odds Of Pregnancy In Your 40s
First, let's talk about the chances of getting pregnant in your 40s. A healthy woman in her 20s has a 25% chance of getting pregnant with each menstrual cycle whereas a woman in her 40s has only a 5% chance. This percentage decreases with age, but the risk of miscarriage unfortunately increases. The chances of miscarriage for a woman in her 40s is actually around 40%.
This is why it's crucial to focus on improving egg quality, which is the egg's potential not just to be fertilized but to develop an embryo that leads to a healthy pregnancy and baby.
If you would like to read more about my recommendations for improving egg quality you can read my article: Improve Egg Quality After 40
Lifestyle Changes for Better Fertility
If you want to improve your chances of getting pregnant, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to improve your fertility. These include:
Eliminating Alcohol: If you're a one to two glasses of wine a night type of person, it might be worth it for you to ideally eliminate or at least reduce your intake to one or two drinks per week.
Avoiding Plastics: Be mindful of the plastics that come in contact with your foods and beverages. Switch to glass or stainless steel containers, especially for hot, oily, or acidic foods.
Choosing Natural Products: Be choosy about your personal care products and cleaning products. Opt for all-natural and chemical-free products to avoid exposure to endocrine disruptors.
Supplements for Egg Quality
In addition to lifestyle changes, certain supplements can help improve egg quality. These include:
Ubiquinol: This is the most bio-available form of CoQ10 and can be thought of as mitochondrial fuel. For most women in their 40s, dosages between 400 and 600 milligrams per day are recommended.
Resveratrol: A strong antioxidant derived from things like grapes. A typical dosage is around 500 milligrams.
Mito Detox 3: This product by BioSpect Nutritionals combines some of the strongest nutrients for egg quality, including N-acetylcysteine, R-alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-carnitine, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).
All of these supplements can be purchased on my Fullscript under my ‘Fertile at 40’ protocol. Get 10% off your first purchase! Purchase here: https://us.fullscript.com/protocols/ibranin-fertile-after-40-supplements
When To Have Sex In Order To Get Pregnant
Lastly, timing of intercourse is crucial to successful conception. It is best to start three to five days prior to ovulation and make sure you're accurately monitoring ovulation.
You can track ovulation using a few different methods.
These include:
The Fertility Awareness Method
Using LH Ovulation Sticks
Using an Ovulation Predictor Kit
I highly recommend using an ovulation predictor kit such as Mira for the most accurate results. This can be a big game-changer!
You can also read my article Let’s Get You Ovulating for more tips on establishing your ovulation period.
Boosting Fertility Naturally Requires Patience & A Plan
Remember, boosting fertility naturally is a journey that requires patience and commitment. It is a good idea to start early implementing these recommendations - ideally four to six months prior to deciding to get pregnant. Stick to all the things you plan to do: taking supplements, eating healthy, eliminating toxins and tracking ovulation.
With commitment to the journey and your plan, I am optimistic that you can boost the chances of pregnancy and start the family that you dream of having!
For more information and to access the supplements mentioned in this post, visit our Fullscript page. If it's your first time using Fullscript via our account, you'll get 10% off your order.
If you would like more assistance with trying to get pregnant, naturopathic medicine could be a viable option for you. Click below to contact us or book an appointment.
FAQs
Is it hard to get pregnant naturally at 40?
As mentioned earlier, the likelihood of conceiving naturally decreases significantly for women in their 40s, making it more challenging compared to women in their 20s. The primary factor affecting pregnancy chances is egg quality. Therefore, by prioritizing and focusing on enhancing egg quality, you can significantly increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Should I also be encouraging my partner to improve their fertility?
Yes. If you are trying to get pregnant then it is also important to encourage your partner to focus on their fertility. If you want to learn more about male fertility then you can read my article Improve Sperm Quality & Count Naturally. You can also purchase my male fertility supplement protocol through Fullscript here: Male Fertility.
How do I know if I am fertile?
It’s not always easy to tell how fertile you are but some good indicators are that you have a regular period and also that you ovulate every month. You can also take an at home fertility test which measures hormones. The Modern Fertility Hormone Test is a good option!
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