At any age, a woman should consult her health care provider before trying to conceive. A preconception visit helps ensure that she is in the best possible physical condition before conception. Certain medical conditions occur more frequently in pregnant women over 40, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid disorders. Fortunately, these conditions can be diagnosed and controlled prior to pregnancy, and many of the medications used to treat these disorders can be safely used during pregnancy. If you currently take medication and you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor. A change in medication or an adjustment of dosage may be necessary. P reconception visit is especially important if a woman has a chronic health problem. For example, women age 40 and older were almost three times as likely to develop diabetes, and almost twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as women in their 20s. Careful medical monitoring and appropriate choice of medications, started before conception and continued through out pregnancy, can reduce the risks associated with these conditions and, in most cases, result in a healthy pregnancy.