There are advantages and disadvantages to starting a family at different ages. When a woman gets pregnant in her 20s or early 30s, it is best for her health and the health of her baby. Both a man’s and a woman’s ability to conceive a baby goes down with age. A reproductive life plan can help men and women identify their goals for when to have children in the future. No matter your age, having a reproductive life plan can help you plan for your future.
If, or when to start a family is a personal decision. Answering the questions in the reproductive life plan may help you feel more prepared to make decisions about your plan for when (or if) to have children.
Although it may not seem like there is a “perfect” time to have a baby, having a reproductive life plan may help you make decisions about having children or not having children at different stages of your life.
While it’s physically easier for women between 20 and 35 to become pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy, women in their 20s may feel somewhat inexperienced or may be concerned about the costs of having a baby. These could include the cost of raising a child and the time on maternity leave.
Having a reproductive life plan may help you figure out the best time to start trying to become pregnant and look at any concerns you have about your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
A woman’s ability to become pregnant starts to go down in her early 30s. This decline is gradual but steady. Even with medical advances, women over 35 have more trouble becoming pregnant and having a healthy baby.
Women becoming pregnant in their 30s may feel more emotionally or financially ready. However there may be some physical challenges to becoming pregnant during this time.
There are increased risks for both the mother and developing baby such as:
Some of these risks can be serious or life-threatening for the mother or developing baby:
Age can affect fertility for both men and women. Answering the questions in the reproductive life plan can help you decide when to start trying to have a baby.
Women in their 40s sometimes feel better prepared to be a parent than when they were younger. They may be more established in their careers and their life experiences help them feel more prepared for the challenges of parenthood.
There are increased risks for the mother and baby such as:
Though treatment for fertility problems offers a better chance of becoming pregnant, fertility treatments can also be stressful, expensive, hard on your body and don’t always work.
Learn more about pregnancy over 35.
A man’s age affects his fertility. Men produce less testosterone as they get older. Their sperm quality and function may change with age, which may affect the ability to conceive a baby.
Changes can include:
There may also be health problems for the baby such as higher rates of:
A reproductive life plan is a simple tool to help you decide if and when you are ready to have a baby. By helping you identify your values, priorities and actions to take, it can also improve your chances of getting pregnant, and having a healthy baby.
Ready or Not contains a lot of information. So we created My To-Do List for you to use as a personal reminder, share with your partner, or bring to your next check-up.
Be sure to click “Add this to my To-Do List” anytime you see something you want to print, email, save, or share. Because we do not ask for any personal information, your list will only be saved for a week after your last added item.
