Childbearing at Older Ages: Getting Pregnant

October 07, 2008

SEARCH drSpock

my account | sign in

HOT TOPICS

		Pregnancy Symptoms
		Read with Your Kids -- It's Fun!
		Take Our Quizzes
		Play with Your Baby

TOPICS

Breathing and Respiratory

Ear Problems: Miscellaneous

Eyes

Fever: Overview

Fever: Treatment

Fifth Disease and Parvovirus B19

GI Problems: Miscellaneous

Immunizations: General

Immunizations: The Shot Visit

Infections of Childhood

Insects: Bites and Stings

Medicines

Menstruation

Mononucleosis

Mouth and Throat Problems

Newborn Care

Newborns: Problems

Nose and Sinus Problems

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sickle Cell Disease

Strep Infections

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Urinary Tract Problems

Vomiting and Spitting Up


	Parents are talking about their children. Join the discussion.

Childbearing at Older Ages: Getting Pregnant

by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.
reviewed by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

Childbearing at an "older age" takes on a new meaning when you remember that in colonial America life expectancy was only 35 years! With better living conditions, improvements in medical care, and changes in the role of women in society, many people are now waiting to start having children until 30, 35, 40, or even later. Medically, pregnancies in women over thirty-five are said to be of "advanced maternal age."

Fertility myths and realities

Lately we've been hearing heartwarming stories almost on a daily basis about women in their forties and even fifties getting pregnant. Unfortunately, these stories has given some couples a false sense of security that there is "all the time in the world" left for them to start their families. The news reports often omit that these pregnancies in older women were conceived with donor eggs, through high tech in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The truth is: infertility and miscarriage are significantly more common in older women.

Getting pregnant: some statistics

If a couple of maximally fertile twenty-year-olds are trying to conceive, the chance of success is about 30 percent each menstrual cycle. In essence, it is a coin toss each month. Most people conceive within a few cycles because their number finally comes up, just like you can figure you will toss heads if you try a few times.

In women, but not in men, fertility diminishes with time. If a forty year old has about half the chance of getting pregnant that she had when she was twenty, her chance of conceiving each month may be only 15 percent. She may conceive the first month, but it is less likely for her number to come up in a reasonable number of tries. There are very few spontaneous pregnancies after age 44.

Planning Ahead

For couples where the woman is over thirty-five, fertility experts recommend avoiding delay in getting help if you are not pregnant by six months of trying.

If it is very important to you to have children, consider getting started as soon as it is acceptable in your life, even if the timing doesn't seem optimal. There may never be a "perfect time" to start your family.


RELATED INFORMATION

			Trying to Conceive: Myths and Truths
			Getting Pregnant
			Older Moms-to-Be
			Infertility

Created September 18, 2000
Reviewed February 10, 2003

| |
| | |

THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee, or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full Terms of Service.