Conceiving later in life – Is there an age limit for pregnancy?
You’re not alone if you have this question. Until recently, there was a clear age limit for pregnancy. Female fertility diminishes with age, and most women stop being able to conceive a few years before menopause. However, advances in reproductive medicine are making it possible for women to have a baby even after menopause.
Our Las Vegas fertility doctors want women to understand what these new fertility treatments can and cannot do. As a result, The Fertility Center of Las Vegas (FCLV) is explaining the truth about getting pregnant later in life.
Advanced fertility treatments have created a new age limit for pregnancy
Female fertility may decline over time, but in vitro fertilization (IVF) and donor eggs provide another option for women. This treatment with our Las Vegas fertility doctors can safely extend the age limit for pregnancy. In fact, it allows women to conceive in their 40s and 50s. Best of all, it doesn’t appear to carry many additional risks for women in this age group.
One study looked at women over age 50. The researchers found that these women were no more likely to develop gestational diabetes or experience premature labor than younger women. However, the women over 50 were slightly more likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. Proper monitoring and treatment were able to prevent or manage the problem though.
So, what’s the new age limit?
A woman’s eggs are different than her uterus when it comes to aging. While egg quality and quantity decrease with age, her uterus does not change as much as time goes on. This means that a woman can carry a baby even after she no longer has enough eggs to conceive.
There is a caveat though. Our Las Vegas fertility doctors don’t encourage pregnancy for women of all ages. We generally use 52 as the age limit for pregnancy. For patients that are using a gestational carrier we generally follow the ASRM guidelines of 55 for individuals and a combined age of 110 for couples. Helping a patient conceive beyond this age is something our doctors will review on a case by case basis.
If you would like to learn more about welcoming a baby later in life, our Las Vegas fertility doctors can help. Contact us to learn about treatments that can help you become a mother.
