According to the National Institutes of Health, a woman's chance of getting pregnant begins to drop after she reaches 30. Women over 40 may also have the added complication of health problems that come with age, according to the Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, in addition to decreased fertility, the chances of a woman having a miscarriage increase with age. This does not mean, however, that pregnancy over 40 is out of the question.
Step 1
Use a basal body thermometer to learn about your cycle. Take your temperature first thing in the morning, before you get out of bed, starting on the first day of your period. This is day one of your cycle. Tracking your daily temperature can tell you if and when you ovulate, as your temperature goes up at this time. It remains higher during your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your next period) and drops again at the start of your next cycle.
Step 2
Time intercourse so that it takes place a few days before you ovulate, which is when you have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. You will learn what day of your cycle this is by keeping an eye on your basal body temperature.
Step 3
Consult a fertility specialist. According to the Mayo Clinic, most couples should try getting pregnant naturally for at least a year before seeing a specialist. However, women over 40 should see a fertility doctor earlier than this, after only a few months. This can increase the chances of getting pregnant. A fertility specialist will ask to see your basal body temperature charts, and may perform diagnostic tests including blood work and ultrasound scans.
Step 4
Use fertility drugs to increase your chances of conception. A fertility specialist may prescribe specialty drugs such as clomiphene (Clomid), gonadotropins (hMG, HCG, GN-RH), follicle-stimulating hormones and others. Fertility drugs work in a number of ways, including increasing the number of viable egg-containing follicles and stimulating ovulation. They may be taken orally or by injection.
Step 5
Ask your doctor about assistive reproductive technologies (ART). If fertility drugs are not helping you to get pregnant, the next step is ART. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women over 40 can turn to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) to increase their chance of getting pregnant. IUI involves injecting sperm directly into the uterus around the time of ovulation, and may be combined with the use of fertility drugs. During IVF, one or more fertilized eggs is placed directly into the uterus.
Things You'll Need
- Basal body thermometer
- Ovulation calender (basal body temperature chart)
