Pregnant at 40+

How does fertility change?

From the early age of 30, women’s fertility gradually begins to decline. While it is often comparatively easy to get pregnant in the 20s, the chances gradually decrease from the age of 30. With increasing age, the monthly chances of pregnancy continue to decrease. From the age of 40, it is often much more difficult to get pregnant naturally, and from the age of 45 it becomes extremely rare.

Further information: “Eggs & Age of the Woman”

Why is fertility declining?

A woman’s number of eggs is already fixed at birth and decreases over time. The rate of this decline varies from woman to woman. Ultrasound examinations and hormone analyses can be used to assess the ovarian reserve. Some women have a low ovarian reserve as early as their 30s, while others still have a lot of eggs at 40.

In addition, the quality of the eggs also decreases with age, while the proportion of eggs with genetic changes increases. This can lead to immature or genetically modified eggs not being fertilized or unable to develop, affecting the chances of pregnancy. Hormonal changes can also affect ovulation and reduce the chances of pregnancy.

Despite these challenges, there is the possibility of trying to get pregnant again with each phase of the cycle. In addition, supportive fertility treatments can significantly increase the chances.

Learn

About one in seven couples in Austria remains childless despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse. This can have various causes, including hormonal disorders or organic malformations in both men and women. Therefore, the examination of the man is crucial even in situations where the woman is over 40.

Chances of getting pregnant at 40+

Basically, your chances of a natural pregnancy are higher with younger age. A 20-year-old woman has an 86% chance of getting pregnant within a year, while a 40-year-old has a 36% chance of getting pregnant.

Causes

Every woman is born with a fixed number of eggs that mature from puberty. Every month, one dominant egg develops, while others are lost. The ovarian reserve is steadily decreasing. The quality of the eggs also decreases, especially after the age of 40. As we age, we can develop various risk factors that can affect fertility, including illness, stress, weight problems, alcohol and tobacco use, as well as a lack of physical activity or an unbalanced diet. Don’t be discouraged by this information. For most couples who want to have children, assisted reproduction methods open up new opportunities to realize their dream of having a baby. Every treatment begins with a thorough diagnosis.

Increased risk at 40+?

• Unfortunately, with increasing age, the rate of miscarriages also increases. This is a protective mechanism of nature that leads to a miscarriage rate of about 30% in 40-year-olds and a rate of about 50% in 42-year-olds. Early miscarriages are used to prevent non-viable babies with chromosomal damage or other defects.

• In addition, other risks increase over the years, including premature births, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.

• We will be happy to advise you personally in our clinic to determine your individual risk profile.

Health risks

Experts disagree on how risky pregnancy is from the age of 40. While some pregnancies at this age go without problems, others are more likely to experience complications. The most common problems are:

• Gestational diabetes: An initial manifestation of diabetes during pregnancy. The risk increases with age. This can lead to various complications, including urinary tract infections, high blood pressure, increased birth weight of the child, premature birth, and preeclampsia, which increases the chances of a cesarean section.
• High blood pressure: Pregnancies over 40 are often accompanied by high blood pressure, which can lead to further complications such as preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome or a lack of blood flow to the uterus and placenta.
• Preeclampsia: This condition often occurs in the late stages of pregnancy and can lead to serious complications such as eclampsia. Symptoms such as edema, increased blood pressure and elevated protein levels should be taken seriously.
• Chromosomal disorders/miscarriages: The risk of chromosomal disorders such as trisomy 21 increases with age. This can lead to miscarriage because babies may not develop due to malformations. Prenatal screening and examination procedures can help detect these abnormalities, but the decision to do so is up to the parents alone.

Determine the causes & choose the correct therapy 

If your desire to have children remains unfulfilled after six months, we welcome you to our fertility clinic. We start with a thorough diagnosis to determine the causes of your unfulfilled desire to have children and then create a personalized treatment plan for you. We accompany you sensitively on your way to the child of your dreams.

Our diagnostic process includes the following steps:

• A detailed initial consultation in which we get to know your medical history and determine the further treatment strategy.
• Examinations such as ultrasound to determine your ovarian reserve and hormone status, including anti-Müllerian hormone.
• Examination of tubal patency using Hydro Contrast Sonography (HyCoSy).
• Examination of the man’s fertility by means of a spermiogram.

Based on the discussions and the diagnostic results, we select the optimal therapy for you, whether it is hormone treatment, insemination or artificial insemination (IVF, ICSI, P-ICSI). We will provide you with detailed information about each step of the therapy, answer any questions you may have, and take your concerns and wishes into account.

If it is determined that your ovarian reserve is depleted, we will also support you in getting pregnant through egg donation.