Getting pregnant is not as easy as you might think. A healthy couple at the prime reproductive age has about a 25% chance
of conceiving each month. Only about half of all couples get pregnant within six months of trying, but most – 85% – do become
pregnant within a year. Becoming pregnant takes time. Don’t assume it will happen right away.
If you want to become pregnant, the first thing you need to do is see your doctor, who can give you advice about health care
before pregnancy. Nutrition and exercise are very important, to ensure that you are in the best physical shape for pregnancy.
Certain health conditions and infections can affect your baby during pregnancy, as can the use of drugs or alcohol. So it
is important to get all these factors under control before trying to become pregnant.
When is the ideal time to become pregnant?
From a strictly biological point of view, your 20s is the best time to conceive and carry a baby. The average woman’s fertility
peaks around age 24. In your 20s, you have more healthy egg cells, and your risks of having a miscarriage or a baby with birth
defects are lower than in subsequent decades. You have a lower risk of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure
or diabetes. Once your baby arrives, you are likely to have more energy to deal with the challenges than if you are older.
However, in your 20s, you are likely to still be carving out a career path, and having a baby at this time can affect your
professional life. Your earning power may be low, and you might find yourself running into debt problems. You may be in a
new marriage, or simply enjoying life, and a baby can pose a real challenge.
Having a baby in your 30s makes practical and financial sense. You are likely to have established your career, and your earning
power may be higher than in your 20s. You may also be more relaxed about parenting than you would have been in your 20s. At
the same time, you are still likely to have a lot of energy and stamina, which will come in handy when taking care of your
baby. However, once you reach age 35, there is a decline in fertility, and birth defects such as Down syndrome, other genetic
abnormalities, and cardiac defects become more of a concern. After age 35, you will be offered screening and diagnostic tests
to help determine the risk that your baby may have a birth defect. Rates for pregnancy-related complications such as ectopic
pregnancy and miscarriage, as well as caesarean section, also rise after age 35.
If you choose to have a baby in your 40s, you are likely to be more financially secure and comfortable in your career. Your
marriage or relationship may be much stronger than in your 20s, because you have had time to grow together through a variety
of circumstances. A strong relationship can provide a solid foundation for raising a family. Although you may have less energy
than in previous decades, you may also put less pressure on yourself to be the “perfect parent.” However, there are obvious
downsides to becoming pregnant in your 40s. First of all, there is a steep drop in fertility in your 40s. Also, there are
higher rates of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, placental problems, and birth complications.
If you do decide to become pregnant in your 40s, try not to become disheartened. Although the rates of pregnancy complications
are higher than in your 20s or 30s, you still have a good chance of having a healthy baby.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you will need to stop your birth control. You may assume that you will become pregnant
as soon as you discontinue your contraception, but that is not always the case since the average couple not using contraception
only has a 25% chance of conceiving in any month. The return of your fertility will depend on the type of contraception you
were using:
-
The
contraceptive pill (“the Pill” for short) stops the woman’s body from releasing an egg during
ovulation. After the Pill
is stopped, it takes up to four weeks for the normal
menstrual cycle to start up again. On average, it takes about two to
three months to conceive after stopping
the Pill.
-
Progesterone injections are meant to provide a woman with about three months of
contraception after the injection is given.
Once the injections are stopped, it takes much longer to become fertile, compared with
the Pill. This is because the medication
in the injections takes a longer time to be cleared from your body. Normal fertility is usually restored within eight to 15
months after discontinuing these injections.
-
Intrauterine devices (
IUD) do not interfere with the woman’s
menstrual cycle. Therefore, as soon as an
IUD is removed, a woman
should physically be able to conceive. There is a chance of becoming pregnant while on
IUD contraception. If this happens,
it presents an increased risk of
ectopic pregnancy and
miscarriage.
