How easy is it to have a child after 40?

Although pregnancy after 40 is possible without fertility treatment, a woman’s chances of conceiving are lower than they would be if she were in her second or third decade of life. This means, although not impossible, that it will certainly take longer to get pregnant. You may be wondering why your fertility decreases with age.

Well, women are born with all the eggs they will have throughout their lifetime. The largest number of eggs you have is about 6 – 7 million, at 20 weeks gestation, when your mother is still carrying you. At your birth, the number of eggs will drop to just over a million; at puberty there are 300,000 – 500,000 eggs. Of this number, only 300 eggs will be fully mature and released during ovulation. As you get older, the number of eggs decreases. And as you approach menopause, your ovaries become less sensitive to the hormones responsible for triggering ovulation.

If you are a woman over 40 and trying to conceive, it is important not to delay seeking medical advice from a specialist. After special tests, the doctor may suggest that you continue trying to conceive normally for a few more months or that you should go for an assisted reproduction method.

Not all women in this solar group have the same chance of achieving pregnancy with IVF because there are some factors and indicators that could maximise the chance of achieving pregnancy by choosing the most appropriate treatment strategy.