It is certainly possible to get pregnant at age 38; the March of Dimes, or MOD, reports that 20 percent of new mothers today are 35 or older. However, women over 35 are faced with some distinct challenges, not only in achieving pregnancy but in delivering a healthy newborn. Around one-third of women between ages 35 and 39 have fertility issues, and miscarriage rates and risks of birth defects increase as well, according to the MOD. The odds of getting pregnant at 38 can be increased by being aware of some of the pitfalls of getting pregnant over 35.
Check Hormone Levels
Women are born with all the eggs they'll ever have, and since both egg quality and quantity diminish as women age, according to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), checking hormone levels provides a bit of a window into the ovaries and their current functioning at age 38.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are the most commonly used predictor of current fertility, the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago explains. FSH levels rise as women approach menopause and the ovarian reserve begins to run dry. Levels rise in an attempt to force the ovary to produce an egg containing follicle. Cycle day 3 FSH levels over 9 milli-International Units per milliliter (mIU/ml) indicate some degree of reduced egg reserves; the higher the FSH level, the fewer good eggs left in the ovaries.
Estradiol levels that don't fall between 10 and 80 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml) on day 3 may also indicate decrease ovarian reserve, Advanced Fertility states. Estradiol is the dominant form of estrogen, Medline Plus explains. Women with low ovarian reserve can still get pregnant, in some cases, but should see a fertility specialist from the beginning.
Monitor Ovulation
Many women at 38 are approaching perimenopause, a period before menopause characterized by changing menstrual cycles and periods of anovulation, or lack of ovulation, the Mayo Clinic states. Symptoms last 2 to 8 years and can start by the mid 30s. A woman in perimenopause may ovulate one month and not the next. It's fairly simple to monitor ovulation with ovulation predictor kits (OPK) bought over the counter at the pharmacy. OPKs measure luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine, which rises in response to rising estrogen levels produced by a growing follicle. LH is also elevated in menopausal women, so check your levels at the beginning of your cycle to make sure they're low.
Monitor cervical mucus to give an idea of when to begin testing for ovulation; when cervical mucus increases and becomes thin and stretchy, ovulation is approaching. Start testing as soon as changes in the mucus are noticeable. It's not necessary to have sex every day during the month to get pregnant; every other day is fine, since sperm live several days.
Consult a Fertility Specialist
It can take up to one to two years to get pregnant over age 35, the APA reports, but don't wait that long to seek help if you're 38 years old. If all your hormone levels are normal but success doesn't come easily, within six months, see a fertility specialist, the MOD suggests, for a full fertility workup.
