YourBabyYourWay.com - Ask the Expert:Preconception

Ask the Expert

Ask the Expert is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read here.

Pregnancy in older women

Q: I‘m 39. What risks are associated with getting pregnant at a later age?

A: In a healthy woman there is not a significantly increased risk during pregnancy except for an increased risk of genetic abnormalities in the fetus. The risk increases every year and at age thirty-five is equal to approximately 0.5%. All women, regardless of age, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status should be offered genetic counseling, and if desired, prenatal diagnosis by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. These tests are more invasive, but also more accurate. Learn more about pregnancy in older women >

— Margaret Griffith, MD, The Woman’s Clinic of Vancouver

Birth Control and Conception

Q: How soon after stopping birth control can I get pregnant?

A: You can get pregnant as soon as you stop using birth control. If you are on the pill, it is advisable to stop taking it and use another form of contraception, such as a condom, for two to three months prior to attempting to conceive.

— Margaret Griffith, MD, The Woman’s Clinic of Vancouver

Submit your question >
You must be a registered community member of YourBabyYourWay.com to submit a question to one of our experts. If selected, your question will be answered by one of our experts and be published on YourBabyYourWay.com. Join now >

Visit the Ask the Expert archive >

Existing Members

Featured Partner

GoBellyGo maternity necklaces are a great way to celebrate the blooming belly! Wear your "due in" month proudly before the long-awaited "pop" appears, then engrave a special message on the back after baby's arrival. Adorably packaged in a keepsake tin. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and mention YourBabyYourWay.com in the subject line to get 15% off your order. See all offers >

This Week's Expert

Margaret Griffith, M.D.

Dr. Griffith grew up in Lake Oswego, OR and attended Temple University in Philadelphia for medical school. She then completed my OB/GYN training at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and is board certified in OB/GYN. Dr. Griffith enjoys practicing women's health care at the Women’s Clinic of Vancouver.