Advice On The "Best" Age For Getting Pregnant

by sadiqbari

posted on 10/21/2009

At the age of 18, the optimum age for fertility for women begins . They will be at their most fertile at the age of 25, and most likely to get pregnant. A woman's fertility starts to decline around 25 or 26. This decline is relatively gradual for the next ten years, however. It is not until the age of 35 that the process of losing fertility begins to speed up more rapidly. By the time a woman reaches the age of 40, she is exponentially more likely to have problems getting pregnant. In fact, around 2/3 of women who are over the age of 40 will have issues with infertility of some sort or another.

Statistics are just statistics, it is possible, obviously, to become pregnant before the age of 18. In fact, a woman can become pregnant as soon as she starts to ovulate. In some girls, this can occur as early as age 11. On the other end of things, it is definitely possible for a woman who is 50 to become pregnant. In fact, a woman can become pregnant right up until she in the stage of menopause. Male fertility is generally high all the way until they are near the end of their thirties because men's bodies work a little differently. Around a third of men will experience a decrease in the amount or number of sperm that are produced at the age of 50. Still, two thirds of men will not experience any loss of fertility until they are even much older than that.

The "best" age for getting pregnant may or may not be when you are most fertile. For example, getting pregnant at 18, can create a variety of problems, as can getting pregnant later in life. A woman to become pregnant when she is most fertile may not be ideal. She may wish to spend some time working on her career or pursuing advanced educational goals before becoming pregnant. Therefore, the "best" age is really up to the individuals involved. Many consider the 30s the happy-medium age for motherhood. You're more apt to be secure in your career and in your relationship, which will provide a firm foundation for your growing family. Hopefully, you and your partner have also had the chance to have some adventures together before you embark on parenthood, the greatest adventure of all.

It's the good news. The bad news is there's a tremendous difference between your ability to get pregnant in your early versus your late 30s. As the decade progresses, a woman's fertility goes into free fall. That's why fertility experts caution women in their 30s not to wait too long, particularly if they want more than one child. Pregnancy at any age comes with distinct advantages and disadvantages. The experts checked in with fertility specialists, financial consultants, relationship gurus, and 30-something moms to provide a realistic picture of what it's like to have a child in your 30s. Having children in your 30s makes financial and practical sense. You probably have a higher income and a better financial cushion than in your 20s, because you've had more time to become established in the working world.

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