What age can u not get pregnant

Having a Baby After Age 35: How Aging Affects Fertility and Pregnancy

A woman’s peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline becomes more rapid once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely for most women.
Women begin life with a fixed number of eggs in their ovaries. The number of eggs decreases as women get older. Also, the remaining eggs in older women are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes. And as women age, they are at higher risk of disorders that can affect fertility, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
For healthy couples in their 20s and early 30s, around 1 in 4 women will get pregnant in any single menstrual cycle. By age 40, around 1 in 10 women will get pregnant per menstrual cycle. A man’s fertility also declines with age, but not as predictably.
Women who get pregnant later in life have a higher risk of complications. For example, pregnant women over 40 have an increased risk of preeclampsia. Pregnancy later in life also can affect the health of the fetus.
Older women tend to have more health problems than younger women. For example, high blood pressure is more common in older people. Having high blood pressure before pregnancy can increase the risk of preeclampsia. But studies also show that older women who do not have any health conditions can still have complicated pregnancies.
The overall risk of having a baby with a chromosome abnormality is small. But as a woman ages, the risk of having a baby with missing, damaged, or extra chromosomes increases.
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is the most common chromosome problem that occurs with later childbearing. The risk of having a pregnancy affected by Down syndrome is
Learn about tests that look for genetic disorders:
- Prenatal screening tests assess the risk that a pregnancy will be affected by a specific birth defect or genetic disorder. Screening can be done before and during pregnancy.
- Prenatal diagnostic tests can detect if a pregnancy is affected by a specific birth defect or genetic disorder.
Both screening and diagnostic testing are offered to all pregnant women. You don’t have to be a certain age or have a family history of a disorder to have these tests. It is your choice whether you want to have them done. Talk with your obstetrician–gynecologist (ob-gyn) about genetic testing options so you can make a choice that’s right for you.
The risks of miscarriage and stillbirth are greater in women who are older than 35. Also, multiple pregnancy is more common in older women than in younger women. As the ovaries age, they are more likely to release more than one egg each month.
Also, some fertility treatments increase the chance of a multiple pregnancy. Although multiple pregnancies can be healthy, these pregnancies can increase the risk of preterm birth.
All women should think about whether they would like to have children and, if so, when to have them. This is called a reproductive life plan. If you would like to have children someday, your plan can be a simple statement like, “I would like to finish school and have more money saved before having children” or “I would like to have children in my 20s when my chances for a healthy pregnancy are best.” Talking with your ob-gyn can help you develop your reproductive life plan. The next step is to put your plan into action.
If you don’t want to get pregnant and have a male partner, use a birth control method to prevent pregnancy. Make sure you are using a method that fits your reproductive goals, your lifestyle, and any health conditions that you have. Together you and your ob-gyn can review your birth control options.
If you want to get pregnant soon, you should try to be as healthy as possible before pregnancy. Take steps to stop using alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. You also should start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).
This is a visit with your ob-gyn that helps you plan for a pregnancy. During this visit, your ob-gyn should review your medical history, your family history, any past pregnancies, and any medications you take. You also should review immunizations to be sure that you have all of the vaccines that are recommended for you. You and your ob-gyn also may talk about
- your diet and lifestyle
- how you can maintain a healthy weight before getting pregnant
- recommended screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- the option of carrier screening for you and, if needed, your partner
All women should talk with their ob-gyns before trying to get pregnant, but it’s especially important for women older than 35.
It is a good idea to talk about your plan once a year with your ob-gyn. Ask yourself whether you would like to have children in the next year. If your answer is yes, you can take steps for a healthy pregnancy. If your answer is no, you can make sure that you are using a reliable birth control method.
Currently, there is no medical technique that can guarantee fertility will be preserved. If you know that you want to have children later in life, one option may be in vitro fertilization (IVF). With IVF, sperm is combined with a woman’s eggs in a laboratory. If the sperm fertilizes the eggs, embryos may grow.
Embryos can be frozen and used many years later. When you are ready, an embryo can be transferred to your uterus to try to achieve a pregnancy. The chance that IVF will work for you depends on many factors, including your health and your age when the embryos are frozen.
Talking with a fertility expert will help you understand your chances of success with IVF. Also, there are financial considerations. Some IVF treatments are expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
A procedure called oocyte cryopreservation—“freezing your eggs”—has become more popular in recent years. In this procedure, several eggs are removed from the ovaries. The unfertilized eggs are then frozen for later use in IVF.
Egg freezing may seem like a good option for women who want to delay childbearing. But egg freezing is recommended mainly for women having cancer treatment that will affect their future fertility. There is not enough research to recommend routine egg freezing for the sole purpose of putting off childbearing. Egg freezing also is expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
If you are older than 35 and have not gotten pregnant after 6 months of having regular sex without using birth control, talk with your ob-gyn about an infertility evaluation. If you are older than 40, an evaluation is recommended before you try to get pregnant. This advice is especially true if you have a problem that could affect fertility, such as endometriosis.
During an evaluation, you have physical exams and tests to try to find the cause of infertility. If a cause is found, treatment may be possible. In many cases, infertility can be successfully treated even if no cause is found. But the chances of success with these treatments decline with age. See Evaluating Infertility for more information.
Getting early and regular prenatal care may increase your chances of having a healthy baby. At each visit, your health and your fetus’s health should be monitored. If you have a preexisting medical condition or if a medical condition develops during pregnancy, you may need to see your ob-gyn more often. Regular prenatal care can help your ob-gyn find problems sooner and take steps to help manage them.
Carrier Screening: A test done on a person without signs or symptoms to find out whether he or she carries a gene for a genetic disorder.
Chromosomes: Structures that are located inside each cell in the body. They contain the genes that determine a person’s physical makeup.
Complications: Diseases or conditions that happen as a result of another disease or condition. An example is pneumonia that occurs as a result of the flu. A complication also can occur as a result of a condition, such as pregnancy. An example of a pregnancy complication is preterm labor.
Diagnostic Tests: Tests that look for a disease or cause of a disease.
Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21): A genetic disorder that causes abnormal features of the face and body, medical problems such as heart defects, and mental disability. Most cases of Down syndrome are caused by an extra chromosome 21 (trisomy 21).
Eggs: The female reproductive cells made in and released from the ovaries. Also called the ova.
Embryos: The stage of prenatal development that starts at fertilization (joining of an egg and sperm) and lasts up to 8 weeks.
Endometriosis: A condition in which tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures.
Fetus: The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization.
Fibroids: Growths that form in the muscle of the uterus. Fibroids usually are noncancerous.
Folic Acid: A vitamin that reduces the risk of certain birth defects when taken before and during pregnancy.
Genetic Disorders: Disorders caused by a change in genes or chromosomes.
High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure above the normal level. Also called hypertension.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A procedure in which an egg is removed from a woman’s ovary, fertilized in a laboratory with the man’s sperm, and then transferred to the woman’s uterus to achieve a pregnancy.
Menstrual Cycle: The monthly process of changes that occur to prepare a woman’s body for possible pregnancy. A menstrual cycle is defined as the first day of menstrual bleeding of one cycle to the first day of menstrual bleeding of the next cycle.
Miscarriage: Loss of a pregnancy that is in the uterus.
Multiple Pregnancy: A pregnancy where there are two or more fetuses.
Neural Tube Defects (NTDs): Birth defects that result from a problem in development of the brain, spinal cord, or their coverings.
Obstetrician–Gynecologist (Ob-Gyn): A doctor with special training and education in women’s health.
Oocyte Cryopreservation: A procedure in which eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and frozen for later use with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Ovaries: Organs in women that contain the eggs necessary to get pregnant and make important hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Preeclampsia: A disorder that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in which there is high blood pressure and other signs of organ injury. These signs include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, a low number of platelets, abnormal kidney or liver function, pain over the upper abdomen, fluid in the lungs, or a severe headache or changes in vision.
Prenatal Care: A program of care for a pregnant woman before the birth of her baby.
Preterm: Less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Screening Tests: Tests that look for possible signs of disease in people who do not have signs or symptoms.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs): Infections that are spread by sexual contact. Infections include chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).
Sperm: A cell made in the male testicles that can fertilize a female egg.
Stillbirth: Birth of a dead fetus.
Uterus: A muscular organ in the female pelvis. During pregnancy, this organ holds and nourishes the fetus. Also called the womb.
Vaccines: Substances that help the body fight disease. Vaccines are made from very small amounts of weak or dead agents that cause disease (bacteria, toxins, and viruses).

Don't have an ob-gyn? Search for doctors near you.

FAQ060

Published: October 2020

Last reviewed: December 2021

This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOG’s complete disclaimer.

Chances, Fertility, and What to Expect

Written by Rachel Reiff Ellis

You’re hoping to make a baby and wondering about your chances at “advanced maternal age” (the medical term for women pregnant at 35 or later). Age is one of the key factors that predict your ability to conceive. Your fertility starts to decline at age 30 and keeps on dropping steadily until you hit menopause.

That said, it’s not only possible to deliver a healthy baby after age 35, it’s quite common. Here’s a look at the odds facing “older” mothers.

By the Numbers

You’re at your peak fertility in your 20s. Healthy women that age who are trying to conceive have about a 1 in 4 chance of getting pregnant during a single menstrual cycle. In other words, 25 out of 100 women will succeed per month.

By age 40, an average healthy woman has only a 5% chance of getting pregnant per cycle.

At the same time, the likelihood of miscarriage climbs with your age. A typical 40-year-old has about a 40% chance of losing the pregnancy. That compares to less than 15% for someone in their 20s.

By the time you’re over 45, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says getting pregnant naturally is “unlikely for most women. ”

Reasons for Fertility Drop

As you age, so do your eggs. And you have fewer of them, too. You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have in your life, about 1 million. By the time you hit puberty, you may have about 300,000 left. At 37, you’re down to just 25,000 -- or 2.5% of your starting count. That matters because the fewer eggs in your ovaries, the lower your odds for conception.

Even if you do get pregnant, your older eggs are more likely to have abnormal chromosomes, which may raise your chance of miscarrying your baby. Also, women after 35 are more likely to have problems like endometriosis and uterine fibroids that make it harder for you to get pregnant.

The quality of your partner’s sperm also matters. As men age, their sperm tend to swim slower and begin to lose their shape. But sperm quality doesn’t drop steeply until after men enter their 60s.

Your Options

Some older women trying to conceive may need more than just more time and help from Mother Nature. If so, several types of reproductive medicine may make pregnancy possible.

If you’re under 35, your doctor may recommend fertility treatments if you’ve tried without success to get pregnant for more than a year. That window shortens to 6 months if you’re 35 or older. And if you have any medical issues that could hurt your chances of conceiving, your doctor may advise that you get fertility help right away. They may suggest:

Drugs that stimulate egg production
In vitro fertilization (IVF)

If you know you’d like to have a baby someday but aren’t ready now, one option is to freeze your fertilized egg for IVF later. The quality of your embryos likely will be highest when taken closest to your most fertile years. A clinic will test your eggs for viability, or the chance that they’ll produce a healthy pregnancy.

Another option is to use an egg or embryo donor. A clinic will use a healthy egg from a younger woman and fertilize it with your partner’s sperm or donated sperm, and implant it in your uterus, so you can carry and deliver the baby.

Until what age can you get pregnant - the likelihood of conception, infertility

What do you know about your reproductive health? It turns out that there is a big difference between what most people say about this and the actual biological facts. This conclusion was made by researchers from the Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey (RMANJ) after a survey of 1,000 Americans aged 18 to 40 years, conducted in March 2016.

Thus, 57% of respondents said that a woman's "biological clock" "stops" at the age of 44. This is partly true: only some 44-year-old women can become pregnant naturally. But in fact, fertility declines over the course of 20 years, almost throughout adulthood, especially after 35 years.

If before the age of 31, three quarters of women can become pregnant within a year, after 35 years - only half. At 44, this figure drops to 1-5%, and only in 2% of cases the child will receive completely normal chromosomes from the mother.

"Biological clock" that stops "ticking" is not quite a correct comparison, but, indeed, the fact is that the chances of pregnancy in women after 40 years of age are greatly reduced.

Other similar surveys have been conducted in the past. For example, researchers at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK asked 1,000 young men and women aged 16 to 24 about fertility. More than 80% of respondents claimed that female reproductive function begins to decline only after the age of 35, which, as we have already noted, is actually not the case: the decline begins much earlier, it just increases strongly by the age of 35. Among young people, 25% said that female fertility decreases only after the age of 40; among girls, 16% gave a similar answer.

Another 2016 survey by the Fertility Centers of Illinois found that among women aged 25-45 who had never given birth, less than half (48%) understood that the chances of having a child decreased with age, the risk increased abortion and chromosomal abnormalities.

If we turn to the results of earlier studies, we will see that over the past few years, people's opinion about the effect of age on the state of reproductive function has changed little.

In 2011, experts from the biopharmaceutical company EMD Serono assessed the fertility knowledge of 1,010 women aged 25 to 35 who had never planned or become pregnant before. Many of them wanted to have a child after 30, and 73% of those surveyed rated their chances as higher than is the case in reality. At the age of 35-44, every fourth woman experiences problems with conception, while up to 30 years - only every tenth.
Researchers from EMD Serono noted that only a third of the respondents correctly indicated age as an important factor influencing fertility. Many hoped that as soon as they want to have a baby, it will happen in the first month with a probability of 10-40%. In fact, this figure is only 10%.

In addition, the respondents strongly overestimated the possibilities of in vitro fertilization. They said that after IVF, pregnancy will occur with a probability of 50-59%, although in reality the effectiveness of the method ranges from 20 to 29%. Many respondents did not know that the “age” of the egg also plays an important role. 54% of women were confident that IVF would help them get pregnant, regardless of the age at which their eggs were retrieved.

Where do women get such erroneous knowledge about their reproductive health? How many discuss these issues with gynecologists? It turns out that not all.

In the RMANJ survey, only 26% of women said they had talked to their gynecologists about the effect of age on fertility. Nearly half (42%) of the women who experienced infertility reported that gynecologists had never talked to them about fertility.

Researchers at EMD Serono got similar results. 52% of women did not have conversations with gynecologists about their plans for pregnancy in the future, 78% - about age as a factor affecting fertility, 89-96% - about infertility treatment methods.

And this is not because women themselves do not want such conversations. In a survey by the Illinois Fertility Center, 89% of respondents agreed that gynecologists should talk to patients about reproductive health and infertility, 52% of women 35 and older said they would change their pregnancy plans if they knew that with age, the chances on its offensive are reduced.

Why don't gynecologists talk about this with their patients?

Experts note that often doctors simply do not have time, but this is not the only reason. The topic of fertility and infertility is highly stigmatized. Many doctors are uncomfortable discussing this with their patients. And the woman herself often cannot ask the right questions, because she does not have the necessary information.

Some modern experts believe that fertility issues should be discussed with girls starting in high school. For example, the chairman of the British Fertility Society (British Fertility Society) Adam Balen openly advocates the concept of "choice, not chance." He notes:

Our goal is for sex education courses to cover not only contraception and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, but also fertility, planning the optimal time to start a family. We want young people to make informed choices about pregnancy planning.

Many topics related to fertility and infertility are taboo in today's society. For example, the topic of “freezing” eggs is a procedure that gives a woman the opportunity to keep her germ cells while she is young in order to increase the chances of pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child in the future. In addition, cryopreservation makes it possible to preserve donor eggs in order to give the joy of motherhood to women who are deprived of such an opportunity by nature. Many gynecologists do not talk about this either.

In Russia, such services are provided by Reprobank, one of the largest germ cell banks in Eastern Europe. We also advocate free discussion of topics related to fertility and infertility, we believe that every woman should have this information.

Source: https://extendfertility.com/fertility-knowledge-gap/

〚 Women's reproductive age - until what age can you get pregnant? 〛|| Blog BABYSTART

October 16, 2020

Theoretically, the reproductive period for women begins on the 1st day of menstruation and ends with menopause. But as practice shows, the older a woman is, the more difficult it is to get pregnant.

A woman can become pregnant during the ovulatory cycle up to menopause, but this is not the only answer to the question of when to become pregnant - many women decide to have a baby before the age of 35, because after that the risk of birth defects in the fetus increases.

The condition for fertilization is the onset of ovulatory cycles, which theoretically take place in the reproductive period from about 15 to 60 years. You can get pregnant even at retirement age, but such pregnancies are rare. Medical practice shows that it is possible to get pregnant before the age of 40 without the intervention of a doctor and the use of artificial insemination methods. It's worth emphasizing that just because you can get pregnant before a certain age doesn't mean it won't work out later.

The possibility of getting pregnant is largely related to:

age;
genetic backgrounds;
women's health and hormonal background;
lifestyle;
diet;
stress.

A woman reaches her peak of fertility between the ages of 20 and 25. In the future, fertility begins to gradually (and irrevocably) decrease. This is due to a decrease in the number of eggs. The reserve begins to clearly decrease after 30 years, and in 35–37 year olds it is even more intense. Why is this happening? You should know that a woman (unlike a man) is born with a certain number of eggs given to her for life. Does not produce new ones with age. Even at the stage of intrauterine development, their number reaches 6-7 million. However, primary follicles undergo apoptosis very quickly, in other words, they die. As a result, a newborn girl has only 1-2 million of them, and at the time of the first menstruation, there are about 400,000 such follicles in one ovary.

The eggs wait for their turn to mature, transform into a fertilized egg and leave the ovary. The cell is released from the ovary during ovulation, which occurs around the middle of each menstrual cycle. After the release, the egg waits for the arrival of the sperm - not too long, just plus or minus 24 hours. If at this time no spermatozoa appear on the horizon, the egg cell dies. This, in short, is the monthly menstrual cycle.

Gynecologists recommend using FertilWoman® Plus, a complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for the female body, to improve fertility. This drug increases the chances of successful conception.

Most gynecologists emphasize that the best age for childbearing is between 20 and 30 or even earlier. Currently, the approach to this issue is less radical, as the average age of mothers is increasing, so it is recommended to have a first child before 30 years old, which is the best time to get pregnant. Why?

Due to the woman's physiology, pregnancy is at its best during this period, so the number of complications is minimal. Also, the likelihood of defects in a child is the smallest in young mothers. Moreover, in the third decade of life, women have the highest number of ovulatory cycles, so the likelihood of pregnancy is highest.