Also, the amount of time that a woman has been trying to get pregnant is a major factor and is often an indicator of problems that can impair fertility, such as endometriosis. The longer a woman waits to find out if there is a problem, the more her chances of pregnancy decline. Perloe says blood tests are available for women age 38 and above to help them determine their likelihood of getting pregnant either on their own or with fertility treatments. Such tests can actually help predict the chance of age-related miscarriages so that women have a realistic idea of what they can expect. But, for many women, even hearing that their chance of a successful pregnancy is very low is not enough to discourage them from trying.
Some experts think so.
The reasons why women wait to have children are diverse, but many cite pursuit of higher education, busy careers, and lack of time to build solid relationships. Naomi Pelzig, MD, didn't get married until she was 38. She had her first child six years ago at age 42 and her second at age 46. N.Y. She says though there is no question that plenty of women do get pregnant in their 40s, she thinks some women justify delaying pregnancy by looking to the well-publicized celebrity pregnancies and assuming they will have the same success. Even though it's often not our fault, we have to make relationships and family as least as important as career.