| If you're trying to get pregnant and fear that | | | | a good chance of getting pregnant after 40. How to |
| menopause might affect your conceiving chances, try | | | | increase your odds to conceive when you're 40 |
| not to worry too much. Although fertility naturally | | | | Just because your chances of getting pregnant |
| declines after 35, women over 40 are one of the | | | | naturally at 40 are good, it doesn't mean that you |
| most common age groups that accidentally get | | | | should let fate run its course. There are several |
| pregnant. In fact, it's not unheard of for women as | | | | things you can do to increase your chances of |
| old as 50 to get pregnant naturally! During your 40s, | | | | getting pregnant. *Don't wait to get infertility testing |
| your periods start becoming highly irregular as your | | | | and treatment. Your biological clock is ticking and you |
| body prepares itself for menopause (the final period). | | | | can't afford to waste a year or more trying to |
| But you won't become entirely infertile until you have | | | | conceive without addressing the obstacles to your |
| not had a period for at least one entire year. So as | | | | fertility. Visit a reproductive endocrinologist and get |
| long as you take care of your body and your fertility, | | | | fertility testing. You will most likely be taking an |
| you might be able to conceive even without using | | | | ovarian reserve test, which will indicate how many |
| assisted reproductive technology. Pregnancy during | | | | eggs you have left in your ovaries. Based on the |
| perimenopause | | | | test's results, your reproductive endocrinologist can |
| You're probably aware that women are born with all | | | | recommend treatments that will help you get |
| the eggs they will ever need, and that this supply of | | | | pregnant faster. Some of these treatments may |
| eggs diminishes drastically by the time she | | | | include assisted reproductive technologies, egg |
| approaches the age of 40. Once this supply is | | | | donation, or fertility drugs. |
| completely exhausted, the woman is said to undergo | | | | *Eat to boost your fertility. Studies show that |
| menopause. However, exciting new research shows | | | | processed foods, trans-fats, and refined sugar are |
| that women might continue to produce eggs after | | | | detrimental to fertility. Avoid these foods and |
| birth. This study, which can be found in the journal | | | | consume more fruits, vegetables, full-fat dairy, and |
| Nature, suggests that the ovaries might have a | | | | other nutrient-rich foods. |
| hidden reserve of eggs. If more research can confirm | | | | *Quit smoking and drinking for optimal conception |
| this discovery, it could be the most important finding | | | | health. The chemicals in cigarette smoke and |
| in reproductive medicine since the development of in | | | | excessive alcohol intake can impair your ovarian |
| vitro fertilization. | | | | function. You must quit smoking if you are trying to |
| A similar discovery at the Jones Institute for | | | | conceive or going through IVF. Although some people |
| Reproductive Medicine offers hope to older women | | | | trying to conceive think that the occasional cocktail is |
| trying to conceive. Eighty-six women who were going | | | | safe, your chances will improve if you give up |
| through premature ovarian failure or early menopause | | | | drinking altogether. |
| participated in an egg donation program at the | | | | *Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Folic acid is a |
| institute. During the course of the program, seven | | | | B vitamin that lowers the risk of serious birth defects |
| participants were able to ovulate successfully and | | | | associated with a deficiency in this vitamin. The FDA |
| three gave birth to healthy babies. The researchers | | | | recommends that any woman trying to conceive |
| suggest that it's possible for the ovary to regain | | | | should load up on folic acid, especially if she is |
| some of its functions naturally or with the help of | | | | approaching menopause. Additionally, recent studies |
| drugs, as long as the ovaries were not damaged by | | | | have indicated that taking folic acid can increase |
| chromosomal abnormalities or radiation therapy. So if | | | | conception rates. |
| these two conditions aren't a problem, you still stand | | | | |