Fertility tips to help women over 40s improve their chances of conception and get pregnant naturally.
It is generally believed that getting pregnant is hard after 40 years of age. This includes difficulty in conception, higher risk of miscarriages and pre-term births and high rate of complications during pregnancy. A number of research studies concluded that although the fertility rate decreases with age, a lot of females can still become pregnant naturally without needing any medical or surgical intervention.
What Decreases Fertility With Advancing Age?
Dr. D Navot (1) conducted a study to ascertain the actual cause of infertility in females over 40 years. He conducted a study on 35 women with mean age of 42.0 years (and already diagnosed with primary fertility). After conducting a variety of medical and laboratory test, he concluded that the ovum related issues are the primary cause of infertility and if normal ovarian cycle is restored, the female reproductive organs in 40 year olds are competent to bear the pregnancy.
P.van Zonneveld (2) also confirmed the results of Navot after conducting his study on women above 40 years of age (age range of study population being 41 to 46 years) and suggested that the hormonal secretion declines in women with advancing age that interferes with the normal ovulation. This is further complemented with a substantial decrease in the total number of viable oocytes. These factors contribute to the difficulty in conception seen in older women.
What Are Some Tips To Get Pregnant After 40s?
Research data clearly suggest that restoration of normal balance of female reproductive hormones can help in improving fertility rate and chances of conception. Identification and prompt management of factors that may produce an imbalance in the production or metabolism of female hormones can increase the chances of conception. Few helpful tips in this regard are:
Maintenance of Normal Body Weight
Obesity is a leading cause of infertility and a higher BMI is directly associated with significant alterations in normal ovulation. This is attributed to the changes in the concentration of reproductive hormones as a result of peripheral conversion in adipose tissues. It is important to:
- Avoid vigorous dieting or starvation as the weight loss tool since nutritional irregularities greatly affect the secretion of endocrine hormones.
- Be slow, consistent and avoid hormonal supplements for weight loss support (most weight loss supplements affect the secretion or metabolism of thyroid hormone, thereby affecting the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone FSH directly).
- Perform regular daily physical activity such as fertility yoga that promotes the blood flow to female reproductive organs.
Note: PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease) is the leading cause of female infertility that responds significantly to moderate weight loss.
Home Remedies
It is very important to study your menstrual cycle and ascertain the fertile period (that is around ovulation or 14th day of a 28 day menstrual cycle). A few helpful tips in the estimation of ovulation period are:
- Monitoring and recording the basal body temperature and practicing frequent intercourse at or around the time of ovulation (rise of 1 or 2 degrees is observed with LH surge that marks ovulation).
- Use of ovulation predictor kits that detect changes in the hormonal breakdown products in urine.
- Monitoring the changes in the cervical secretion. This will help you in understanding how vulnerable the embryo (your baby) is; before and soon after implantation.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity especially lifting heavy weight, riding stairs and running.
- Perform intercourse in different positions as long as you and your partner are comfortable (doggy position is most commonly preferred for baby making due to deeper penetration and much deeper delivery of sperms)
Experts suggest massaging uterus is very helpful in enhancing blood supply to uterus that promotes development of uterine tissue. Besides massage, fertility cleanse is something that helps in detoxification process in order to eliminate toxins and chemicals produced as a result of hormonal breakdown, medications and stress mediators released by the body as parts of metabolic processes.
Herbal Remedies
Healthy nourishing fertility supplements include vitamin C, grapefruit juice and seed extract and fresh garlic for optimizing detoxification processes. Herbal remedies have least side effects and drug interactions as compared to pharmacological agents. Most herbal remedies exert their action by promoting the blood supply to the reproductive organs, maintaining a normal biochemical balance, stabilizing the secretion of different hormones that are required for conception and optimizing the pH of female genital tract. Few notable herbal remedies that help in getting pregnant naturally include:
- Saw Palmetto is available in capsular form as over the counter herb and promotes fertility by correcting menstrual irregularities.
- False Unicorn is an ancient Native American herb that is equally effective in treating male as well as female infertility. Especially effective in women with history of recurrent miscarriages.
- Red Clover is perhaps the most potent and widely used herbal supplement that serves many functions to enhance the female fertility naturally. This includes correction of hormonal irregularities, detoxification of blood and delivery of essential vitamins. Do not use this herb if you have a history of major recent surgery or clotting disease.
- Maca was first used by the natives of Peru as a fertility herb and it exert its actions by improving the sex drive and by non-pharmacological management of female issues like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian disease.
- Vitex is a popular remedy to manage ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities and anovulatory cycles. It is most effective when employed in tincture form.
Other popular fertility herbs include Oatstraw, Damiana, Alfalfa and Red Raspberry Leaf.
Caution: It is highly advisable to speak to a healthcare provider before starting a fertility herb supplement. This is essential because some herbs are known to cross react with medications or other biological agents (like other herbs) leading to serious side effects and deleterious complications.
Diet and Foods
Fertility diet refers to nutritional intake of healthy macro and micro-molecules that help in supplying optimal nutrients for your developing baby and expanding uterus. At the same time, the caloric intake should be sufficient to supply enough energy to your body without causing excessive weight gain. Increase your intake of vegetables like cauliflower, beans and broccoli. Consume healthy and wholesome soups and abstain yourself from caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
Moreover consume more super foods that are nutrient dense but low in calories, (for example fish that is rich in healthy fats and proteins). Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits like cabbage, green pepper and bell pepper, lemon, orange, tomatoes and kiwi. A well planned fertility diet helps in revitalizing the tissues and cells, helps in eradication of toxins and prevents free radical damage to sensitive cells and tissues.
Eggs are helpful in supplying you all the essential proteins and amino acids along with choline and other micro nutrients.
Salad supply enough nutrients, vitamins, fiber, minerals and hydration; all in very small number of calories (essentially helpful for you if you are troubled with obesity or weight issues).
Supplements
Selenium and vitamin E supplementation is very helpful in improving vitality of sperms. Selenium has long been known to protect sperms for oxidative and free radical damage. Intake of supplements like Iron, calcium and selenium are helpful in maintaining the vitality and functionality of sperms in female genital tract.
Other helpful supplements that are advised to women above 40 years of age are iron and folate due to mild to moderate sub- clinical anemia. Moreover, folate is helpful in preventing neural tube defects that are fairly common in babies born to women above 35 years of age. Calcium and Vitamin D are also advised in recommended doses (ideally after a serum assessment). Other great choices include lipoic acid, L-Carnitine, L–arginine and grapeseed extract.
Fertiliaid for women is a doctor-approved and ObGyn-recommended supplement designed to increase fertility and improve reproductive health. It helps to promotes female hormonal balance and reproductive wellness, supporting fertility and optimize a woman’s chances of conceiving.
What To Do To Improve Your Chances of Conception?
- Increase your water intake as water helps in keeping your tissues hydrated and healthy, it also helps in decreasing your cravings and unnecessary calorie intake by suppressing appetite.
- Increase the intake of anti-oxidants that neutralize or kill free radicals; thereby protects the egg from damage.
- Stress, anxiety and worry can alter the concentration and production of different neurotransmitters and mediators in the body. This eventually affects female reproductive hormones and blood supply to reproductive organs. Meditation or the use of fertility hypnosis is helpful in releasing stress and improving your chances of getting pregnant naturally.
What To Avoid
Report published in renowned scientific journal Obstetrics & Gynecology journal suggests that mere lifestyle and diet modification can improve the chances of conception in 80% of the females above 40 years, who lack a gross systemic or organic issue interfering with getting pregnant. While trying to conceive, women are advised to limit their intake if caffeine and caffeine containing beverages as caffeine stimulate the smooth muscles of the body (that may interfere with conception).
Other helpful tips include:
- Avoid sugary beverages and candies that increase blood sugar levels and create a state of academia that interferes with conception. Moreover, sperms are less likely to survive and maintain its functions like motility in acidic environment.
- Alcohol should be strictly avoided since metabolic breakdown products of alcohol are known to interfere with hormonal release and integrity of female biochemical environment.
- Decrease the intake of inorganic and processed foods that are high in toxins and chemicals.
For best results, consult with a fertility specialist to know more about the helpful tips that may increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Also Read: How Lisa overcame her infertility and gave birth to her first child at age 43!
Tara Burner says
Valuable information here for those trying to get pregnant after 40.
My mom had twins at 44!
Me, personally, I’m done…
but am forwarding this to a friend of mine who’s 43 and trying.
Thanks
Angel LaLiberte says
I conceived naturally and gave birth to both of my children after 40-the first at age 41 and the second at 42. Since 2009, I’ve been an advocate for women on the journey of motherhood after 40 and have learned that we are in a catch-22: we’re filled with anxiety over declining fertility after 40 and, yet, stress is known to adversely impact fertility. Women need to feel empowered by actively doing things to increase their fertility and this is an excellent and comprehensive article on how women can naturally enhance their chances of getting pregnant after 40.
Wishing you all fertile good fortune! 🙂
Christina says
Thank you for he encouraging words . I recently turned 40 in January and due to concentrating on my military career for over 10 years and never had children . I am at the point in my life where I want to have a baby.
I am very discouraged especially when family and friends tell me all the negative points to having a child after 40. Any advice would be appreciated.
Rhe says
Thank you so much Angel LaLiberte, for giving us hope. Been trying for 12 years already and never had children. I’m not obese. Turning 39 this year and I’m now really losing hope. Been trying to live life healthy eating Veggies and food supplements, herbs etc. Seen Women who has a lot of vices and yet they got pregnant easily! It’s really hard to understand this infertility illness. Testimony like yours gives me so much hope. Thanks for sharing.
Valerie says
It’s important to remember that it IS possible to get pregnant after 40 and that some women have no struggle whatsoever. Other women face fertility challenges long before their 40th birthday - every woman has a different story.
I think the most important step in this is to take care of yourself. You can’t expect your body to serve you well if you haven’t cared for it, and a high percentage of women with fertility troubles are overweight or obese, making it that much more difficult.
Emma says
I have a dear friend whom is a yoga instructor, eats a vegetarian and healthy diet, runs kilometers a day and has been struggling for years. She is currently 44 years old and she feels she has to accept a life with no children. After a miscarriage last year, this thought is crushing her.
I am glad to see in the comments that people advocate for mothers over 40 as it is harder to be an older mother.
Andrea Robinson says
This is an eye-opener!
I found it extremely interesting to know that 80% of the women over 40 could be helped simply by normalizing weight, eating right, relaxing (that’s a biggie!) and taking some supplements and herbs to help out.
It occurs to me that many of the recommended steps could (should) be taken by a lot of us. I liked the fertility hypnosis and yoga sites, and I think that most of us could benefit from more flexibility and a better night’s sleep (even if we’re not trying to get pregnant).
Several of the readers here are recommending this blog post to friends that are trying to conceive after 40. I’m DEFINITELY doing so! It’s quite a treasure of information.
🙂
Michele says
I am 42, recently. I have a 21 year old son. my partner and I are hoping to conceive naturally for a baby. I think this article is very helpful. I do worry since I have not done this in such a long time…scares me some.
I have a few friends my age that just had their first a few months ago and one just had her second, after two years of having her first. I am hopeful but nervous. I also have MS, so that adds to my worries. I am pretty stable with it though. I hear that you can “crash” after pregnancy. I was prescribed prenatal plus vitamins and take one a day. Wish me luck!
Heather says
I am 42, 43 this yr and have a 13 yr old daughter. Unfortunately, I had a uterine ablation in 2011 due to endometriosis and heavy bleeding. It was my choice alternative to the suggested hysterectomy. I have been with my current partner for a year and a half and we have sex quite regularly, daily when he is here (he works in another city), and daily for the past month for sure. My OBGYN instructed me to use contraception because there is still a chance I could get pregnant. I have not used any as I am not trying NOT to get pregnant. But as my partner has astutely pointed out, if we were to fall pregnant, it really should have happened already, given as much unprotected sex as we have had.
I would really like to know if anyone else out there is in the same age range and has had this procedure and has been able to able to get pregnant. I know it isn’t recommended due to possible accreta, but it would be an amazing thing if it could happen.
LostMommy41 says
Be positive and DON’T READ TOO MUCH ON THE INTERNET. Its’a mostly scary and negative.
My story: I am 41, so is my husband. I have a 16 yr old son from a prior marriage. I conceived naturally March 2015, 6 months after a twin miscarriage (Sept 2014). Previous miscarriage was in 2010, nothing in between. We were basically starting to give up on the idea of children at that point. I had been smoking some (5 or so/day - of course I quit immediately) I have medication controlled hypertension, and am a bit overweight.
However, I did and do eat an extremely healthy diet (lots of veg, lean protein, etc. - nothing from the middle of the grocery store basically - except sweets!! gah!), I drink a lot of water (8-10 glasses per day), limit caffeine to 1 cup per day, and walk 3 miles a day (I continued that until I delivered)
My husband smokes clove cigarettes heavily, does not exercise, and has a fast food diet. We typically have sex daily. I had him use the Fertile Aid for men in a last ditch effort and conceived that month.
LADIES IT IS POSSIBLE!! 🙂
Our sweet baby boy went full term with absolutely no issues, and was 100% healthy.
Sadly, our baby angel passed away from SIDS at 3 1/2 months (he would have been 5 months this coming weekend). My husband and I are trying again already since we know our time may be limited.
I wish everyone who is trying the best. You have to keep the negative out of your head. Love to all!
Mimi says
Hi ladies,, thanks for sharing your stories,,
I’m 44 freshly married .. I’ve two children ,, my hubby and I are trying for a baby,,
I had a miscarriage last month,,
We’re trying again,, when I first spoke about the desire of having a baby with my gyno, she was very negative, after the checkup she finally told me,, ok you can try,, but chances are narrow,,,
The next time I saw her , she checked me , and. Boooom , I was 4weeks pregnant, but unfortunately I miscarried one week after..
My question is,, is there any herbs to help promoting fertility ?
Thanks a lot ,,
Juliet says
Have you had a complete blood panel done to test for things like Hasimoto’s and other immune sytem issues which can be treated but cause miscarriage? I would find another doctor or a fertility specialist.
rashmi says
Hi
I’m 29yrs old and i’ve been trying to get pregnant for almost a year now, still nothing is happening.Can you please suggest me what to do. I am having folic acid for past six months still no improvement. tried most of the positions that have been mentioned. Had counseling with the obstetrician too.It’s making me more worried.So want to have baby… 🙁