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5 Ways to Protect Your Fertility After 30
With American birth rates as high as 3.62 million in 2024, the age of women having children can range from mid-teens to mid-40s, with the likelihood of fertility issues increasing as they get older.
If you want to start a family after age 30, there are some challenges. Yet, childbirth is still possible in this age group. If you’re in the Chicago area, Drs. Michele Hakimian, Kate Nash, Matthew King, and the dedicated staff at Progressive Care For Women can help.
Below, learn the risks of fertility and pregnancy in your 30s, and possible ways to protect your fertility after 30.
Risks in fertility and pregnancy after 30
The number of women waiting until their 30s or later to have children is rising; yet, difficulties with getting pregnant increase with age.
By age 30, women’s monthly fertility rate lowers by 20%. Women also already possess the total number of immature egg follicles they’ll ever have, having up to 2 million of them at birth.
For women in this age group, pregnancy itself carries additional risks, including:
Birth defects
Older expecting mothers have an increased risk of giving birth to children with damaged, missing, or extra chromosomes, leading to a range of birth defects and causing conditions like Down’s syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau's syndrome.
Complications
Older pregnant women, especially in their 40s, are also at higher risk of preeclampsia. This is a form of hypertension that occurs during or after pregnancy, which can lower blood platelets and lead to liver and kidney damage.
Medical conditions
Pregnant women over 30 with preexisting health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or anemia have significantly increased chances of complications.
Methods to protect your fertility after 30
Some tips for improving fertility apply to any age, including getting better rest, avoiding environmental toxins, and taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid. However, as you get older, other methods of improving fertility also become important. You’ll want to:
1. Treat any health conditions
Getting any current health conditions under control is essential to improving your chances of a successful pregnancy and delivery.
2. Add antioxidants to your diet
Berries, leafy green veggies, and nuts support reproductive health by fighting oxidative stress.
3. Consult a fertility specialist
It’s vital to understand what you can do to maximize the chances of pregnancy at this age, so specialized medical help is a must.
4. Review fertility treatment options
When traditional methods aren’t as effective as you hoped, options like in vitro fertilization and donor eggs can be viable alternatives.
5. Check your AMH
Knowing your anti-Müllerian hormone levels helps to assess your ovarian reserves, which becomes essential as you get older.
More and more women are choosing to wait to get pregnant. If you’re ready, make an appointment with Drs. Hakimian, Nash, King, and the Progressive Care for Women team to get started.
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