Fertility AFTER 40

What you need to know

More women than ever are delaying having children, but conceiving after 40 can be a challenge. In fact, the average 40 to 43-year-old woman produces only one viable egg a year. Fertility specialist Dr David Knight from Demeter Fertility has some tips to share on making babies later in life.

DIET

Eating a healthy diet contributes to healthy eggs. Cut right back on processed foods and adopt a diet full of fruit, vegetables and fibre. Folate, polyamines and lycopene are also important, so include dark leafy greens, lentils, sauerkraut, citrus, tomatoes and watermelon.

QUIT SMOKING

Smoking accelerates agerelated infertility and can even contribute to early menopause. The good news is that quitting the ciggies early enough can mean there’s time for any damage done to be reversed.

WEIGHT

Being either underweight or overweight can cause issues with ovulation and make it more difficult for embryos to implant. Talk to your doctor about maintaining a weight that’s healthy for your build and height.

SOY

Studies have revealed that women who consume 20mg of soy isoflavones per day experience double the pregnancy rates of women who only consume minimal soy. The antioxidants in soy help protect against cell damage.

EXERCISE

Moderate exercise contributes to fertility, while being sedentary or participating in extreme exercise can negatively affect your reproductive system.