The determination to be a mother responds to an individual decision that may vary from one woman to another. However, strictly speaking in biological terms, the best age to conceive is around 25 years, since the physical conditions during this period are the most favorable to generate and give birth in a healthy way, without major complications.
Like all cells in the body, ovules age as a woman advances in age, so the chances of a pregnancy once the 35-mark barrier can be reduced considerably.
In fact, the fertility rate at 35 is around 10% per month, while at 20 it is around 20-25%. Also, the risk in pregnancies, such as miscarriages or genetic abnormalities, is higher. It is recommended that, after 6 months of actively seeking pregnancy, you consult a fertility specialist.
At age 40, the fertility rate is around 5% per month. This means that with increasing age, the probability of pregnancy decreases, which is why women tend to take longer to become pregnant.
As the years progress, the fertile days to get pregnant begin to decrease, something that will also depend on genetic factors, lifestyle, general health, eating patterns and other issues involved.
Personal development and motherhood
From a biological perspective, most research places the range between 25 and 29 years as perfect for motherhood, since it would be the time when there is a lower risk of complications, both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. But there are more personal issues that can go into planning a pregnancy.
For example, within Western societies it has become a fairly common theme to postpone motherhood, a decision that responds to the urgency of prioritizing other aspects of life such as professional development. In addition, the economic aspect of the couple and the need to take out health insurance or acquire a suitable home are issues with a lot of weight and influence.
For Melinda Mills, a sociologist at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, the best age to have children today “would be 30 years or a little more.” He reaches this conclusion from studies that analyze the subject from a social and demographic perspective. In fact, there are some advantages to saving motherhood for later.
Perhaps the best answer is “when you are ready”, since there is no universal rule that can or should apply in all cases. In general terms, the recommendation that is given in family planning sessions is to analyze the particular conditions in which the person or couple is, and the medium and long-term projects to then decide what would be the most appropriate time.
Issues such as the size of the desired family or the economic and health conditions of the couple, can become decisive. For example, if the desire is to have a family of two or three children, they should start trying between the ages of 23-25; otherwise, if they want only one descendant, the decision can be postponed until they are 30 years old.
In any case, it is a decision that the couple must make together, adequately preparing for the process well in advance.