LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – As fertility rates decline across the country, a new report reveals that women are choosing motherhood at a later age.
For March, data released by the National Center for Health Statistics showed birth rates among women over the age of 40 had nearly doubled since 1990.
A doctor at the Fertility Center of Las Vegas said the national data matches the trends she’s seen in her practice over the years.
“I think that’s where the biggest growth in the fertility field in general has been,” Dr. Leah Kay, with the Fertility Center of Las Vegas said. “But in general, as we get older, it gets harder to get pregnant naturally and more assistance is required.”
According to the doctor, advanced maternal age starts at 35 years old. She shared health factors to consider at this age, such as the risk of early delivery, c-sections, and diabetes.
However, according to the doctor, those risks can be minimized with the proper health precautions. Sticking to a good diet, taking prenatal vitamins, and keeping a good exercise routine can all help.
“I would never say we advise against it for most women, but we do our due diligence to check and make sure women are healthy preconception,” Dr. Kay, who personally chose motherhood at a later age, said.
“As a geriatric pregnant woman myself, twice, I remain a bit neutral. It’s probably easier to get pregnant at 22 than it is at 42. But at the same time, I think of where I was at 22, and I would have not been good in pregnancy or as a mom,” she expressed.
Dr. Kay continued, “I think it’s empowering for us as women that we have the ability to take our lives on a certain path and follow a certain track and achieve certain goals before we then also achieve other goals.”
If you are over 35 and considering pregnancy, she recommends speaking with a doctor.
