Chances of Getting Pregnant at 40

It is becoming increasingly common for women to get pregnant at 40 and older, and the number has almost doubled in the past decade. There are many reasons for couples and women to get pregnant later in life, and being more financially and emotionally ready for a child is just two of them. While it is very possible to get pregnant and have a baby at the age of 40, the chances are significantly reduced. As individuals age, fertility changes; this is true for both men and women. However, while men will continue to produce sperm throughout their lives, women, on the other hand, are born with all the eggs that they will ever have, and they gradually lose them during their lives. 

From the age of 30 onwards, fertility starts to decline, especially after the age of 35. However, most women will continue to have their normal cycles into their late 30’s and early 40’s. After this time, cycles may become shorter, and as the women start to skip ovulation, periods will eventually begin to be missed. Eventually, the periods will completely cease, and once there is no period for a full year, then it can be said that the woman has entered menopause. The average age for menopause is 51 years of age; this means that women who have entered menopause will be unable to have children. However, fertility is expected to end up to 5-10 years before menopause. 

Reduced fertility in women cannot only be attributed to having fewer eggs; the quality of the eggs will also decline with age, and the chromosomal abnormalities will increase. These can cause birth defects, lower chances of pregnancy occurring and also increase the chances of a miscarriage. Other things can affect the fertility and the ability of the individual to conceive, like the ovaries being unable to properly release eggs and other age-related health conditions that may reduce fertility.

Are there any benefits to having a baby much later in life?

While the statistics around pregnancy at that age can be frightening, the pregnancy will be more closely monitored, and there will be tests and scans that will be carried out to ensure that mother and baby are healthy. Some positives about having a baby later in life include:

• The mother is more emotionally prepared – While being older does not automatically equate with maturity, many people will feel more emotionally settled by this point in their lives. Being in a supported, strong and settled emotional place will make the woman better prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with pregnancy, birth and bringing up a child.
• The couple is financially stable – Usually, after several years of working, investing, earning and saving, the financial implications of raising children may not feel as overwhelming as they may have been when the woman was younger.
• The woman is more likely to have a more settled life – By the age of 40, the woman may have probably ticked off a lot of life goals. This could be in education, career, travel, and forming lasting relationships with others. The woman may feel more free to be more focused on child rearing and building a family. She and her partner, if there are, may have a home of their own, or at least be part of a community that cares about them and that they care about as well. The relationship with the partner will most likely be stable, and they will be excited about being a parent and parenting with them.

What are the chances of getting pregnant at 40?

The chances are dependent on several things, more importantly, how far above 40 is the woman. While the chances of a woman conceiving after trying naturally for six months are around 40%, 35% when the woman is in her 30s, they reduce to about 20% when the woman clocks 40. This reduces even further to 10% when the woman is in her mid-40s. Women who are older than 45 have just about a 5% chance of conceiving naturally. However, multiple fertility treatments are available that can enhance the chances of a woman getting pregnant at 40. Treatments like IVF, intrauterine insemination (IUI), frozen embryo transfer and others. About 34% of pregnancies in women who are between the ages of 40-45 end in miscarriage. For women who are over the age of 45, the rate of miscarriage is 53%.

Tips for Safe Pregnancy at 40 

It is very possible to have a baby safely at 40 years of age and above. However, this is considered a high-risk pregnancy. Some risks come with the pregnancy, and the woman’s body may be put under a high strain. Aches and pain may be more in older women, as the joints and bones are already starting to lose mass at 40. There is also an increase in pregnancy-related fatigue. Other illnesses like high blood pressure and gestational diabetes may also become more likely. It is very important to be in constant contact with a doctor during the duration of the pregnancy. The woman would need to be monitored closely for any or a combination of the following;

• Gestational diabetes
• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• High blood pressure which may lead to preeclampsia

Research has also shown that it is not only maternal age that matters; paternal age can also play a role. Studies have shown that if either parent is older than 40 years of age when the child is conceived, the risk of congenital conditions, neurocognitive disorders and even the incidence of childhood cancers can be much higher.

The baby in the womb will also be monitored closely for:

• Birth defects
• Low birth weight

Giving birth at 40

While vaginal delivery is very possible at that age, since it will likely pose more challenges, as well as increasing the chances of injury to the baby and the mother, it may be safer to deliver via caesarean, as this will prevent other medical conditions like preeclampsia.