Читать книгу Need to Know Fertility, Conception and Pregnancy - Harriet Sharkey - Страница 27

There is no ‘ideal’ time to get pregnant. Fertility varies from person to person, although fertility in both men and women reaches its peak at about the age of 24 years. Many women are now delaying pregnancy until their 30s and even 40s where, once over the age of 35, they are at greater risk of developing complications such as high blood pressure during pregnancy. If you are over 35 years old, there is also a higher risk of chromosomal problems in the fetus, such as Down’s syndrome.

It is not just older mothers who are at increased risk of problems. The risk of complications is also higher if you have a pregnancy when you are a teenager. So, from the doctor’s perspective, having your babies somewhere between the age of 20 and 35 is best in order to minimize the risk of complications, some of which can be serious. However, you may not be at a stage in your life when you can have your babies at that time. So do remember that the majority of women over 35 have a successful pregnancy outcome. It is important to keep these extra risks associated with age in perspective, but seek medical advice if you have any particular concerns and, in particular, if you have an existing medical problem. The ‘best’ time to become pregnant depends largely on what is best for you and your partner, taking into account and weighing up everything that is going on in both your lives and thinking about what pregnancy will mean for you.