Pregnancy After 35: Age Matters But Health Matters More

For years, age 35 has been treated as a bright dividing line in pregnancy: younger than 35 meant routine care, while 35 or older meant “high risk.” That framing is too simplistic—and it can create unnecessary fear for people considering pregnancy in their late 30s or beyond.

Pregnancy risk does not suddenly change on a person’s 35th birthday. It rises gradually with age and becomes more pronounced after 40, particularly for those having their first pregnancy. Even then, age is only one part of the picture. A person’s health before conception often predicts pregnancy health more than age.

This...