Postponing pregnancy makes it difficult to have children, myth or fact?

Pregnancy is something that needs to be decided through careful planning. That also might be the reason some couples postpone pregnancy until they feel ready. However, there is a growing assumption that delaying pregnancy can make it difficult for a person to have children in the future. Is that true?

Could delaying pregnancy make it difficult to have children?

Delaying pregnancy does not directly make it difficult for you to have children. However, please note that the fertility rate will decrease with age.

Delaying pregnancy means that you will get pregnant at an even older age. Meanwhile, the best age to get pregnant is under 30 years. Once you turn 30, your chances of getting pregnant will decrease.

The decline in the fertility rate of women becomes more apparent when they reach 35 years of age. When you are 40 years old, your chances of getting pregnant decrease to no more than 5 percent. Maybe, this is also one of the reasons for delaying pregnancy, making it difficult for you to have children.

In certain cases, you may be advised to postpone pregnancy because of a condition. For example, your health is not yet capable of getting pregnant again, you have a disease that must be treated first, or you have recently given birth.

As long as you are under 30 years of age and have a good fertility record with your partner, delaying pregnancy should not be a barrier to having children.

You can plan a pregnancy after addressing the factors that previously caused you to delay. Consult with your obstetrician so that the pregnancy plan works well and effectively.

The impact of delaying pregnancy too long

Not everyone who postpones pregnancy will find it difficult to have children. However, the time you choose to plan a pregnancy is quite influential on your chances of getting pregnant in the future.

Refer to research in journals Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy as well as some other sources, delaying pregnancy too long can pose a risk when pregnancy does occur. The reason is, you will get pregnant at an older age.

The following is a list of risks that can occur:

1. Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy

You will continue to age as you postpone pregnancy, and the risk of an ectopic pregnancy increases with age. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg does not develop in the uterus, but instead in the fallopian tube.

Ectopic pregnancy is an emergency condition that must be treated immediately. The embryo needs to be removed surgically to prevent further damage to the fallopian tube.

2. The possibility of genetic disorders

Delaying pregnancy until the age of 35 years and over can also make it difficult for someone to have children because of the possibility of genetic abnormalities in the prospective baby. This is because the chance of chromosome division errors increases with age.

Some genetic disorders result in babies born with mental disabilities or retardation. In more severe cases, genetic disorders can be fatal to the baby.

3. The risk of the fetus dying in the womb

Not all women who postpone pregnancy have a high risk of experiencing fetal death in the womb. However, delaying pregnancy until the age of 35 years and over can increase the risk of trigger factors.

These factors are intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm labor. Pregnant women aged 35 years and over, coupled with these two risks, must be very careful because their pregnancy is classified as high risk.

4. Pregnant women are more at risk of complications

The longer you delay pregnancy, the higher your chances of developing obesity, hypertension, gestational diabetes and other complications that make it harder for you to have children.

Pregnancy complications are not only dangerous for the health of the fetus, but also for the mother. In order to reduce the risk of complications, mothers should try to get pregnant at a productive age and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Postponing pregnancy can be the right choice for couples who want to really prepare themselves. However, it cannot be denied that the body's ability to conceive and maintain the fetus will diminish over time.

The best time to get pregnant is before the age of 30. In this period, the fertility level is still good, the body is still quite fit, and the chances of disease occurring are not so great. Pregnancy can go well with minimal risks.