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Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

PREGNANCY AFTER 40 – WHAT CAN OCCUR?

PREGNANCY AFTER 40 – WHAT CAN OCCUR?

Pregnancy after 40 is becoming increasingly common, as many women choose to have children at an older age due to career, personal maturity, or other factors. While a pregnancy at this age can be completely successful, there are some factors you should be aware of to better prepare yourself.

Challenges and risks

1. Difficulty conceiving Fertility naturally declines with age, as the quantity and quality of eggs decline. Women over 40 may take longer to conceive and, in many cases, turn to assisted reproductive methods, such as in vitro fertilization.

2. Increased risk of miscarriage The chances of miscarriage increase after 40, due to genetic abnormalities in the fetuses. After the age of 45, the miscarriage rate can reach 50%.

3. Chromosomal abnormalities The risk of chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome, increases with maternal age. Prenatal tests, such as amniocentesis and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), can provide valuable information.

4. Risks to the mother's health Women who become pregnant after 40 may be at increased risk of:

  • Gestational hypertension
  • Preeclampsia
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Premature birth

  Careful monitoring by a doctor is essential to reduce these risks.

5. Complications in childbirth Normal childbirth may be more difficult due to reduced uterine elasticity, which increases the chances of a cesarean section.

How to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy

✔ Regular medical check-up: Start your pregnancy with a complete gynecological check-up and continue with regular exams.

✔ Healthy diet: Enrich your diet with folic acid, iron, protein and Omega-3 fats.

✔ Physical exercise: Gentle exercise, such as walking and yoga, helps maintain good physical fitness.

✔ Stress management: Relaxing activities such as meditation and music therapy can enhance your emotional balance.

✔ Avoiding harmful habits: Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, and avoid excessive caffeine.

Conclusion

Pregnancy after 40 is completely possible and can have a positive outcome, as long as there is proper medical monitoring and preparation. If you are thinking about having a child at this age, consult a reproductive medicine specialist to ensure the best possible course of your pregnancy.  

Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

Effective doctor-patient communication is vital to providing high-quality health care. Any communication regarding your medical profile (getting results, instructions, answering questions, concerns) will be done directly with the doctor. This means no midwife or secretary will interrupt your conversations. Instead, if you call with any concerns, they will be there right away to address your needs. Contact us by calling 694 649 8771 or by completing the relevant Contact Form.

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

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FREQUENT QUESTIONS

The association of IVF drugs with cancer risk is a major concern for women enrolled in these programs. But the plethora of bibliographic reports collected from credible scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

Of course not. In about a third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in a third of cases, it is due to the man (male factor). The remaining one-third is due to both (both men and women) or even to unknown factors.

The quantity and quality of a man's sperm can be affected by his health and lifestyle. Some factors that can reduce the quantity and / or quality of sperm are:

  • the alcohol
  • drugs
  • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
  • smoking
  • health problems
  • medicines
  • radiotherapy and chemotherapy
  • the age

Success rates vary at each IVF Center. Very important factors are also the age of the woman, the levels of her hormones and of course the sperm of the husband. Rates generally range from 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years old.

Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive after one year (or 6 months, if it is a woman over 35) with normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year passes without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their doctor to determine the cause of the pregnancy and then treat it. We must all, however, be aware and not forget that the age factor is the most critical for female fertility and that the individualized approach of each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

The number of treatment cycles a woman can undergo is not specified. It is certain that in our country there are high level obstetricians-gynecologists and organized infertility treatment centers, which offer impeccable medical services at this level. If there are correct indications (eg ovaries that respond to stimulation therapy, good quality endometrium, etc.) the success rate -especially with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological drugs, which show increased bioactivity compared to conventional drugs from urine- totals approximately 65%-70% after 4 cycles of treatment.

At the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Dr. Traianos we offer egg / sperm cryopreservation services for those who have a personal or medical reason and need this service. We use the most modern vitrification technique in the freezing of sperm and eggs.

The collection of eggs takes 10-15 minutes, it is not painful, it is done under intoxication and after the end of the process you return to your activities.

In general, experts agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child can be considered proof that there is no infertility problem in the first place. It is like a small test that has been done and proves that they "made it" at least once. On the other hand, however, we must be aware that things may have changed in the meantime and a problem may have arisen (e.g. the man may have suffered some inflammation, which affects the quality of his sperm or something has intervened that affects female fertility: an inflammation, a gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.).

In any case, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple is unable to achieve pregnancy, then they should, with the help of their doctor, investigate whether there has been a problem causing infertility.