ovulation after 35

In order to conceive a child after 35, it is necessary that sexual intercourse takes place during the period of maximum fertility. These are the two or three days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and the next day after it. The maximum chance of getting pregnant is the day before ovulation.

In this article, we will take a look at the chances of conception after 35 and the best methods for determining the day of ovulation. And also what can be done today to increase the quality of eggs and thereby ensure the likelihood of having a healthy baby.

How often do women ovulate after 35?

Women after 35 have about the same amount of ovulatory cycles per year – 10-11 per year, but may be less.

ovulationdiary.com logoNote(!): Normally, the ovaries “rest” one or two cycles per year and ovulation does not occur. Different women after 35 years old may have a different number of ovulations – on average from 5 to 10 per year.

According to the gynecologist’s explanation, any drastic changes in life can also reduce the number of ovulations:

  • severe stress (loss of work, major quarrel, someone from the family is seriously ill and other problems);
  • starting intense workouts;
  • climate change;
  • difficult road trip;
  • intense holidays;
  • sudden weight loss or weight gain;
  • acute illness;
  • hormonal drugs, etc.

Pregnancy statistics after 35

According to the data, the probability of getting pregnant for 35-39 year old women during the fertile period is approximately 29% per month, as a comparison – it is 50% for 19-26 year old women.

An age-based female fertility study shows that approximately 47% of healthy 35 year old women get pregnant within 6 months of trying. And from the very first cycle – 19% of women become pregnant, provided that there are no pathologies of the reproductive system and the intimacy coincides with the “fertile window” (you can read more here).

 

If you are 35+ and have been trying for more than 6 months, but pregnancy did not occur – please, contact a gynecologist to identify possible problems with the reproductive system. The sooner they are identified, the greater the chance of getting pregnant naturally.

It is not a coincidence that the World Health Organization allocates such a short period. The fact is, that after 32 the ovaries gradually begin to lose the ability to produce high-quality healthy eggs. After 37, the ability to conceive falls rapidly. Hence the conclusion — if you are trying to get pregnant — every cycle is important.

When a visit to the doctor shouldn’t to be postponed for half a year

According to experts, there are several factors that indicate that you may have difficulty conceiving a child:

  • irregular cycle – occurs at different intervals, unpredictable (may indicate problems with ovulation due to polycystic, elevated prolactin levels, ovarian failure, thyroid pathology and others);
  • cycle duration – the frequency of menstruation less than 24 or more than 35 days;
  • no menstruation for several months or more;
  • the nature of menstrual bleeding – very scanty discharge, less than three days, or prolonged, profuse, longer than seven days;
  • recent change in the nature of menstruation – it has become very painful, significantly reduced or lengthened;
  • bleeding occurs even after the end of menstruation (a little blood for 1-2 days during ovulation is normal);
  • previously had two miscarriages in a row;
  • you or your partner smoke or abuse alcohol;
  • diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STD) in the past;
  • you have either: diabetes, periodontal disease, hypothyroidism, diagnosed and untreated celiac disease.

Why egg quality is reduced after 35

Unfortunately, the egg quality is highly dependent on age. There may be various difficulties here: more difficult to fertilize; chromosomal abnormalities or gene mutations; the embryo turns out to be unviable and after some time will stop in development; the child is subsequently diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities, etc.

For that reason – the frequency of miscarriages, missed pregnancies, birth of children with Down’s syndrome and other pathological cases increases with age.

ovulationdiary.com logoImportant (!): Lower-quality eggs happen due to a decrease in the ovarian reserve, damage to the cells by free radicals, nicotine and other toxins, as well as a decrease in the overall health of the female body.

What can be done in order to reduce eggs deterioration

Of course, age is an important determinant of fertility, but not the main one! Just because you’re over 35 doesn’t mean you can’t have a healthy baby. The state of your body and spirit is much more important – some women can’t get pregnant at 25, others at 40 easily become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child.

We are all different. Your characteristics, lifestyle and nutrition, the potential of your ovaries to grow eggs, as well as the history of diseases.

If you want to get pregnant at 35+, then you should:

  1. Start eating right – more unprocessed, plant-based foods, grains and cereals, lean meats and dairy products, as well as antioxidant foods (fruits and berries with bright skins, greens);
  2. Quit bad habits such as drinking and smoking;
  3. Start a comprehensive body detox. Cleansing the body (liver in particular) helps to remove toxins, normalize all processes, including the functioning of the reproductive system;
  4. Control your weight. Desirable body mass index (height in m2 / weight in kg) from 18.5 to 24.5;
  5. Exercise regularly for 15-30 minutes every day;
  6. Take folic acid at least 3 months before trying to get pregnant – 400 mcg / day, more if required;
  7. Reduce anxiety and worries!

How to detect ovulation with 100% accuracy without tracking and tests

Regular intimacy every 2-3 days is a guarantee that at the time of ovulation there will be spermatozoa in the woman’s body. To make that happen you need to have sexual intercourse without contraception every two or three days (3-4 times a week) right after the end of menstruation.

This way, you will be sure that intimacy without contraception coincided with the “fertility window” (3 days before ovulation and 1 day after) and repeated two to three times.

The advantage of this method: it is proven, trouble-free and very convenient. As a busy woman, you don’t need to bother with a calendar, tests and basal temperature charts.

However, without determining the exact date of ovulation, you will not know when the delay began and when you could rely on the results of the first pregnancy test. This is especially true with an irregular cycle.

 

When you should determine the day of the egg’s release

  1. If you are one of those women who are looking forward to the first signs of pregnancy. If it is important for you to know exactly when that very “shot” succeeded and conception occurred, then you definitely need to determine the day of ovulation.
  2. If you simply do not have the opportunity for intimacy with your partner once every two or three days. Everyone can have different reasons: frequent business trips, shift work, health issues, etc.
  3. When your cycles are irregular and constantly shift by 3,5,7 or more days.
  4. When you are just starting to plan a child and you need to know for sure that you have ovulation, because menstruation can come without ovulation.
  5. In order to have the maximum chance of conception (after all, more than 25% of all pregnancies began after intimacy that occurred one day before ovulation!) You need to correctly identify the signs of an imminent release of the egg.

ovulationdiary.com logoFrom experience (!): When I planned the birth of my children, in both cases I followed this rule — after the end of menstruation, sexual intercourse every two to three days, plus additionally on the day of ovulation and the next day after it.

The best methods to catch ovulation after 35

So what are the most convenient, inexpensive and accurate home methods for determining fertile days? Here they are:

  • ovulation tests that determine the LH surge. With a regular cycle, you will need only 5-7 tests, in case of large fluctuations about 10-15 and more in some cases;
  • observation of cervical mucus. The method is the most budgetary, but requires discernment – some women do not notice changes in the nature of the discharge at all;
  • tracking differences in the saliva crystallization. This method takes time to practice and acquiring a test microscope, but once you got it — pretty reliable;
  • position and density of the cervix. You need to check every day in order to understand the changes before ovulation;
  • monitoring sensations in the lower abdomen. This is applicable for women with a low pain threshold (I, for example, feel the approach of ovulation and ovulation itself very clearly. Sometimes even have to take a painkiller).

It is better to combine several methods – this will help determine your ovulation more accurately. If you are a busy person, use ovulation tests with the determination of LH in the urine. When there is an extra half an hour, you can track how saliva crystallizes daily.

There is a separate article about methods for calculating ovulation in more detail.

ovulationdiary.com logoTip(!): On the day your LH test is positive, examine the quality of discharge (cervical fluid) or check the cervix surface with a sterile glove. Pay attention to sensations in the right or left lower abdomen. This will confirm the calculations.

 A positive LH test means that in the next 6-36 hours there will be ovulation and it’s time for sexual intercourse. According to statistics, the best period for sexual intercourse is one day before the release of the egg for both 25+ and 35+.

About basal temperature when planning pregnancy

Although few people manage to determine early ovulation by basal body temperature (BBT), it is still very useful.

By measuring BBT you will be able to confirm that ovulation did take place and as soon as the indicators begin to grow, you can start counting the days past ovulation (DPO). This is required in order to to determine the exact day X – the first day of the delay (usually from the 15th DPO). Starting from 8-10 DPO, the first signs of pregnancy may already appear and you can take a test.

ovulationdiary.com logoFrom experience (!): I have determined both of my pregnancies before the test – analysing BBT fluctuations. BBT did not drop at the 13th DPO (as usually), but had risen. The test faintly showed the pregnancy. In order to use this method, you need to start keeping a BBT journal at least one or two cycles prior, to monitor your own specific schedule.

Read more about measuring basal temperature in a separate article.

Summing up, it is possible to get pregnant after 35 and give birth to a healthy child. This will not happen as quickly as it would have been 10-15 years ago, but there are chances. Remember that according to statistics, 47% of women 35+ get pregnant within six months of trying, and 72% within a year. Get tested and treated if needed. Lead a healthy lifestyle to help your eggs. Also think positive.

I wish you all an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby!

 Ovulation after 35 – How to calculate (+Statistics!)