WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONCEIVING IN YOUR 40S

According to Repromed medical director Dr Devashana Gupta, fertility decreases “more rapidly” after the age of 30 to 35 in women and around 45 to 50 in men.

“Around 22, you have maybe a 25 to 30 per cent chance per month to get pregnant. By the time you reach 36, it’s about a 15 per cent chance. And when you’re 45, it’s only 1 to 2 per cent, so it does decline quite a bit.

“In school we get taught all about contraception and not getting pregnant. But what we don’t get taught is that your fertility is not infinite.”

Age is associated with a lower egg count and a decrease in egg quality, Gupta explains. Environmental factors such as smoking, vaping, alcohol, pesticides and EDCs — endocrine-disrupting chemicals — can damage your eggs, which don’t have the ability to repair themselves.

And it’s not just a woman’s age that affects outcomes — the cumulative age of both men and women can heighten the risk of miscarriage or genetic abnormalities.

Pregnancy in your 40s also comes with risks, from chromosomal abnormalities and a higher chance of miscarriage to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and placental attachment issues.

“It does sound in some ways a bit doom and gloom,” Gupta admits.

“But we do see a lot of women in their 40s who have relatively low-risk pregnancies. At Repromed, we’re seeing a lot of clients in their 40s and their late 30s,” she adds, citing the Stats NZ data that shows an increase over the years.

Gupta recommends having a plan and seeking help with fertility earlier than you think you need to.

You can get an AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) blood test to tell you how many eggs you have left, but it doesn’t reveal the quality of those eggs.

“It doesn’t tell you your chances of conceiving. “What it tells you is how much time you have,” explains Gupta.

“It’s also important to maybe talk to your mum about her menopausal age, because that could have an impact on your menopausal age. If your mum had menopause in her early 40s, you might want to start planning for a pregnancy earlier.”

While it’s costly, you can also consider freezing your eggs in your 20s or 30s, or using an egg donor later in life.

“Your uterus can function as long as you’re alive — what ages our fertility is our eggs,” she explains.

Consistent exercise, a healthy weight for both males and females, and general good health and wellbeing can help your chances, “but doesn’t override the age factor”, Gupta says.

“We talk about eating healthy, making sure you have all your nutrients, fruits and vegetables — the Mediterranean diet has been shown to be associated with better outcomes.

“We [also] recommend practising mindfulness and seeking counselling assistance to help you through this journey.”