Geriatric Pregnancy

Geriatric is a word that usually refers to a senior person, but with pregnancies, it means those who are over 35 years of age. And while it may have had some merit in the past, with advances in medicine and a more hands-off approach to pregnancies nowadays, geriatric pregnancy as a medical condition might have faded a bit, as the risks are more manageable. In fact, in many countries, it is perfectly normal to get pregnant after 40. Nonetheless, there are some issues that arise from late pregnancies. 

A woman is born with all the eggs she’s going to have in life. During each menstrual cycle, one egg is lost if not fertilized. With no new eggs forming, you can see how that can be a problem. The later it is in life, the fewer eggs there are. The remaining eggs are also older, and chances of them being fertilized during a single menstrual cycle decrease significantly after 30 years of age. 

Studies have shown that in women aged 25-34 the probability of conception after intercourse is 40%, while those older have a 30% chance. That is a big dip, and it means that the older you are the harder it would be to conceive. That something to consider if you plan on waiting before having kids. 

Hormonal changes can also lead to an increased probability of having multiple pregnancies. This is because these hormonal changes may cause more than one egg to release at the same time. With older women opting for IVF’s more often, twins or triplets are also becoming commonplace in advanced age pregnancies. 

It is an unfortunate truth of life that we all get a little less fit as we get older. There are exceptions, of course, but unless you pay specific attention to your health, you are probably not as healthy as you were in your twenties. Thus, pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, etc. are also a risk factor when it comes to pregnancies over 35.