SPONSORED FEATURE
Top tips to
get pregnant
after 35
H
ave you and your partner been trying to conceive
for what seems like ages with no luck? Well,
you’re not alone. Infertility is a common problem,
especially in high-income societies where people tend
to delay conceiving until they’re in their 30s. For some, it
can have a crippling psychological impact.
There are several important factors to consider if
you want to increase the chances of having a baby, in
particular if you’re 35 or older, said Dr Lim Min Yu, an
obstetrician and gynaecologist (O&G) at Gleneagles
Hospital in Singapore, His specialisation is in fertility
medicine, and his main area of research is in developing
methods of embryo selection to improve IVF success
rates.
Dr Lim Min Yu is
an obstetrician
& gynaecologist
at Gleneagles
Hospital,
Singapore.
8
MARCH 2020
Ticking biological clock
Did you know that fertility in both men and women
declines with age? A woman is born with all the eggs
she will ever have and, as she gets older, the number
and quality of her eggs decline.
Dr Lim explained that a woman’s fertility starts to
decline considerably after 35. Beyond 40, the chances
diminish further. When she starts to go through
menopause around 50 years of age, her chances
of becoming pregnant naturally are almost zero. In
summary, a woman’s age is the most important factor
when it comes to her chances of conceiving.
Though men continue to produce new sperm
throughout their lives, it’s important to note that infertility
may stem from the male reproductive system too.
Indeed, both sperm count and quality decline with
age and, according to the World Health Organization,
general semen quality has been getting poorer globally
over the years. As an example, healthcare institutions in
Singapore saw an exponential increase in the number of
men seeking fertility treatments over the past few years.
On average, the female factor is found in one-third
of cases of infertility, the male factor in one-third, and a
combination of male and female factors in the remaining
one-third.
Overall health matters
Couples should optimise their general health when
they’re trying to conceive. Not only can this improve
chances of becoming pregnant, but also lower the risk
of developing complications.
For starters, eating sensibly and having regular
exercise are strongly recommended. Other factors that
can affect your chances of having a baby include:
• Caffeine intake – Caffeine is one of the most popular
methods of combating fatigue. However, women who
consume caffeine in excess (i.e. around five cups a
day) may take longer to get pregnant. In one study,
those who consume the most caffeine had a 45
percent risk of waiting more than nine months before
becoming pregnant.
• Alcohol consumption – Alcohol poses a risk for
women who are trying to get pregnant as it decreases
conception rates and increases the risk of miscarriage.
While there’s no known ‘safe dosage’, you might want
to think twice before taking that second or third glass
of wine if you’re trying to conceive. It’s also been
shown to cause male infertility as well.
• Smoking – Smoking has been proven to lower
men’s sperm counts and increase the likelihood of a
premature birth or miscarriage for women. Scientists
have also found that women who are constantly
exposed to second-hand smoke, either as adults or
children, are more likely to have issues with fertility or
suffer a miscarriage.
• Stress – Stress on both men and women can affect
their chances of conceiving. When women are highly
GlobalHealthAndTravel.com