How Can I Preserve My Fertility After the Age of Forty؟
We received a beautiful question from one of our followers:
“I’m a 41-year-old woman. How can I preserve the fertility of my reproductive system for pregnancy?”
Dr. Riham Elshal, Specialist in Obstetrics, Gynecology, IVF, and Fertility Challenges, answers:
Honestly, this is a wonderful question — and the answer is important for many women, especially with the rising age of marriage and the increasing number of pregnancies after the age of 40.
In fact, it’s best to start having this conversation at least 5 or 6 years before turning 40 — around the age of 35 — by taking steps to protect the body and its fertility.
Why?
Because it all comes down to the “age of your cells.”
Our body’s cells are affected by many things.
Some factors can cause them to age and deteriorate prematurely, while others can help preserve their vitality and keep them youthful and active — even as we grow older.
We’ve all seen this in daily life:
Some people look like they’re in their 20s even though they’re in their 30s or 40s, while others look much older than their actual age.
The difference comes down to:
• Genetics
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Lifestyle
• And the biological age and quality of cells
All of this directly affects the fertility of the reproductive system — and thus the chances of getting pregnant.
Watch the video here:
So how do we preserve fertility and reproductive health?
Dr. Riham Elshal adds:
Since marriage is happening later in life nowadays, we’re seeing more women getting pregnant after 40.
There are medical ways to preserve fertility — even before marriage.
1. Medical Procedures to Preserve Eggs
If you haven’t gotten married yet, we can use a technique to retrieve and freeze your eggs.
How?
We stimulate the ovaries, retrieve the eggs, and freeze them — this allows us to preserve good-quality eggs that can help you in the future if you decide to undergo IVF.
2. Maintaining External Reproductive Health
Many women after 40 experience issues such as:
• Sagging
• Pigmentation
• Vaginal dryness
But now we have what’s called Aesthetic Medicine, which allows us to maintain the health and appearance of this area and treat any issues that might affect physical or emotional well-being.
3. Supporting Ovarian and Uterine Health
Absolutely — there are ways to maintain the function of the ovaries and uterus, such as:
• Improving hormone balance
• Stimulating blood circulation
• Enhancing the internal environment where eggs develop
What about hormones? What can we do?
Hormones are the chemical messengers that move through our bodies.
Surprisingly, we can influence how hormones function through nutrition alone!
Yes — proper nutrition is the foundation that improves hormonal performance, and therefore fertility.
But there’s always a common question:
“What about stress? How does it affect things?”
The answer is:
Stress is one thing, but how we deal with it varies from person to person.
Two kids in the same home, under the same circumstances — one gets deeply affected while the other copes better.
Much of this is due to nutrition and the nutrients their bodies receive.
Real Case:
I once had a patient dealing with serious family problems with her husband and in-laws, under immense emotional stress, and trying to conceive.
When we ran her lab tests, we found she had a severe deficiency in Vitamin D.
We started treating this deficiency, designed a complete nutritional plan, and followed a fertility roadmap after 40.
After some time, she told me:
“I feel peaceful and calm now.”
I asked:
“So have your problems gone away?”
She replied:
“No — they may have gotten worse! But now I can handle them much better.”
That’s exactly what we’re talking about!
Nutrition and Daily Routine Are the Foundation
Everything in your body — from your mental state to your energy levels — is affected by your metabolism and the nutrients you feed your body.
Sometimes, what feels like depression is actually due to a vitamin deficiency, not life’s stresses.
It could be digestive issues, iron deficiency, poor absorption, or a lack of omega-3 — all of which can affect your mood, not just stress alone.
So if you’re in your 30s or 40s and thinking about pregnancy — or even if you’re not married yet — it’s essential to start addressing fertility now.
Start planning.
Focus on nutrition.
Stay active.
Avoid anything that drains your cells of their energy.
Fertility isn’t something decided on the day you want to get pregnant.
It’s a journey that starts with early awareness and a balanced lifestyle.
In Conclusion:
Every woman can preserve her fertility.
And every woman needs a personalized plan depending on her situation — which we explain in detail in our program: “Pregnancy After Forty.”
Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you to every woman who takes the time to ask, learn, and care.
A big warm greeting to all of you… and our heartfelt prayers for everyone wishing for motherhood.
If you’re struggling with fertility, we’ve gathered all the topics related to delayed pregnancy into detailed lessons with scientifically documented and well-organized information — to help you reach the dream of motherhood you truly deserve: