Getting pregnant at 40 and over

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Delaying pregnancy into the 40’s could not be easier. Creating pregnancies for women in their 40’s is anything but. This article is the road map women wish they had before trying to get pregnant at 40. 

 

 

getting pregnant at 40. Easier said than done.

 

Planning on getting pregnant at 40 is on the rise, but your circle of friends may not be joining. There are many others on the same path, ahead, behind, and with you.  Would you like to know what you all have in common? Surveys say that first-time mothers in their 40s….

  • All have the same Pregnancy Plan A – pregnant within a few months.
  • US women are confident Pregnancy Plan A will go as expected, very few have considered a Pregnancy Plan B.
  • European women all have Pregnancy Plan B, it is the same Plan B, and regard it with the same confidence US women have with plan A  – IVF.
  • Women know that fertility declines as they get older, yet few can give more details.

 

Beginning a family later in life is an increasingly popular choice in modern parenthood.

 

The number of women who start getting pregnant at 40 and over has steadily risen in the last 30 years, with lifestyle and career being the most common reasons behind the decision (aa). This shift in trend is the result of three widely held beliefs that women discover were misconceptions.

The contraceptive pill promotes a heightened and unrealistic sense of fertility. 
  • Belief: ‘use the contraceptive pill properly and you won’t get pregnant, if you don’t use it properly or stop taking it, you could be pregnant before you know it.’
  • Misconception: if pregnancy can be only a few missed doses away, I am very fertile. 
  • Expectation: I will be pregnant soon after I stop the taking pill.
  • Reality: Women under 35 generally have a 20% chance of becoming pregnant per month. Allow 2 years to become pregnant. If you have not become pregnant after 2 years, see your doctor. 

 

the contraceptive pill allows women to prevent and postpone pregnancy for as long as they want.

 

Up to 60% of US women who delay their first pregnancy until their 40’s are unaware of the challenges commonly faced (cc). 

 

It is common knowledge that women’s fertility gradually declines with age and typically ends in their mid 40’s. Women choosing pregnancy in their 40’s will have a range of beliefs regarding age, fertility decline, and what it means to them and their pregnancy. A survey of US women discovered very few could understand the relationship between rapid fertility decline and age until they actually had to start treatment for it (cc).  

 

‘Pregnant at 40’ women share a common belief. Age-related fertility decline problems are of no real concern to them.

 

US women believe age or fertility decline problems will not apply to them (cc). European women believe IVF will solve any pregnancy problems they may encounter. (dd) A recent US survey found 31% of women believed getting pregnant at 40 and over is easily achieved once the contraceptive pill is stopped (bb).  44% of women had no idea that IVF was going to be necessary. 

 

Pregnancy can’t be that hard if more and more women are giving birth in their 40’s.

 

On the surface, this statement seems logical enough to be true. The number of women attempting pregnancy in their 40’s has increased, and the number of babies born has increased along with it. However, when comparing the number of women to the number of babies, the success or birth rate among these women has not changed. 

Getting Pregnant Naturally After 40

Natural pregnancy rates run at about 40% between 35 – 39 years of age. That means 40 out of every 100 women who want a baby do so without needing a doctor or medical help. Between 40 – 44 these same rates drop to 20%, and at 45 down to 10%.

 

  • Fact: IVF is responsible for over 600 pregnancies a year for women in their 50’s.
  • Common Interpretation: Even though my natural fertility years are over, IVF can get me pregnant.
  • Common Belief: IVF can give me a baby any time I want.
  • Reality: All true, but only made possible using donor eggs. Women want to use their own eggs to fall pregnant, only considering donor eggs as a last resort. Only 18% of women in their 40’s go on to use donor eggs. 
  • Classified: IVF has very low success rates for women over 40 using their own eggs.  Age 40 – 42 :  11 women per 100 IVF cycles give birth using their own eggs. Success rates have improved by 1% in the last 10 years. Age: 43 – 45: less than 5 women per 100 IVF cycles give birth using their own eggs. These numbers have not changed since 1992. (dd). 

 

changes in IVF success rates by age group from 1992 to 2018.
Image reproduced from the Human Fertilization and Embryo Authority

 

 

Natural fertility rates beat IVF every time. What are the doctors missing?

Surely IVF is helping women who can’t fall pregnant to solve their infertility issues. If this was the full story then still, only one in five women at 40 fall pregnant using IVF. One in twelve women has a baby at the age of 44. It would seem that trying to create a natural pregnancy is the most effective solution.

How to beat the post-40’s IVF blues? Getting pregnant naturally after 40.

The decline of eggs growing in your ovaries every month is a visible indicator of decline in ovarian function reducing egg health.

Now, this is no coincidence, but do the above two charts look the same as the first two?

The intervals of years and rates of decline are the same. Is this a clue to the underlying reason for declining fertility rates? You bet it is! It is the essence of declining fertility rates and the key to solving it.

The Egg Quality Issue

Most of us have made popcorn. We notice that below all that nice hot fluffy popped corn, there are some kernels left un-popped. Now there is a scientific reason why these kernels don’t pop. All the kernels look the same, but some just won’t pop.

This is what happens to a woman’s eggs after 38 years of age. They still look the same yet don’t ‘pop’ so well anymore. Fertility rates drop because of fertilization problems due to declining egg quality. It sounds so obvious now.

After 38 egg fertilization rates drop because of decreasing egg quality.

Antral follicle counts, ovarian reserve, and Anti-Mullerian Hormone levels are fertility markers. Natural fertility rates and IVF success rates depend on proper levels of these markers.

Learn more about what these markers mean here.

The key to promoting pregnancy in women in her 40’s is to improve her egg quality.

How do you know if egg quality is good? Get an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test done, and that will give you a great sign on your egg quality. Learn more about the AMH test here.

If you are over 38 and have typical AMH values of 1.96 ng/ml or 14 pmol/l and above, then your eggs are great. It is the same as having eggs of a woman of 30. AMH levels of ‘normal’ or ‘below normal’ over 38 years-of-age show you where the real problem lies.

Improving egg quality is the key to pregnancy after 40.

How to improve egg quality? Is it easy? Umm… no.

Improving egg quality and its AMH indicator is impossible according to your doctor.

Improving egg quality back to that of a 30-year-old is possible and within reach of many women over 40.

Knowing your current AMH and day 3 FSH levels is an excellent indicator of improvement. In general, higher AMH levels and lower day 3 FSH levels are a great sign that improvement is possible. Lower AMH levels and higher FSH levels make it harder. Check your levels with our research, to know how likely you are to see improvements in your egg quality. Learn more about proper AMH and FSH values and what they mean.

IVF doctors can’t improve egg quality with below normal AMH levels.

Neither can any pharmaceutical drug. To date, improving egg quality for women over 40 has eluded modern medicine altogether. It is not even a field of research.

If you have AMH levels below that of a 37-year-old, IVF is unlikely to help you. The lower your levels, the less the chances of a pregnancy. IVF success rates, even with normal AMH/FSH values, are between 18% – 2%. What are the rates when AMH levels are low? 8% – 2%. See the ‘Essential Guide to low AMH and IVF,’ to understand this topic in detail.

Success rates of women with low AMH per value.LB = Live Births. SAB = Spontaneous Miscarriages.TOP = Terminated pregnancies due to chromosomal abnormalities.

Now, these facts are not designed to dishearten would-be mothers. Knowing the limits of what IVF can do is a reality check. Be informed!

There are natural and intelligent ways of getting pregnant naturally after 40.

 

Comments (25)

Dear DR. SCOTT MARTIN

I hope you are well. I am over 40 years old, my AMH level is low. Which product you recommended me using to improve my
AMH level.

Best regards
Sana Al Tom
28/09/2019

Hello Sana, the products we use specifically for rasing AMH levels include the Ovance & RPM bottles. You can see them here.https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/product/ovance-and-rpm-combination/
There is also a video on the bottom of the page that helps you choose between the different Ovance & RPM combinations.

Hello,

I am taking DHA 50mg daily, is it safe to take Ovance Low AMH formula too.

Pls, advise.
Thank you

Hi Masia, thank you for your question. Yes DHEA is fine to take with the combination. I have written an article on DHEA you can access for more information.
https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/does-dhea-improve-egg-quality/

My problem is you dont shirk beyond US.
How an I get them in UK?

Hello Rachel, we hoped it was clear. On the bottom of every page, in a big green box, on the left-hand side it says “GLOBAL SHIPPING
We offer expedited international courier services. Packages typically arrive within 10 days of placing your order.”

I hope all is well ? l am 42 years. My ob-g order a blood works for me .my Amh is very low . My Fsh is 82 is the any hope for me ?. My right ovary was removed . My ob- g said my only chance is to use a donor egg. My cycle is off.

Please visit this page to compare your AMH/FSH levels to results we have had with others https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/see-the-results/
Likely in your case, a donor egg is necessary.

Hello,
I am 52 and I want to have a baby is there any chance of conceiving?

Hi Shirby, good question! The desire for children may not fade, and the body’s ability to grow a baby extends far beyond a woman’s capacity to fall pregnant naturally. Typically after 45 years of age natural pregnancies are about 4%, IVF successes even lower. This means for every 100 women who want a baby naturally at 45 years of age, only 4 will fall pregnant. Now, this is statistics, but it’s a good way to create expectations. Using a donor egg from a woman under 30 years of age through IVF provides a good chance of conceiving. In recent history, the oldest confirmed mother was María del Carmen Bousada from Spain, who gave birth to a child when she was 66 using IVF treatment. In 2016, an Indian woman from Punjab who “believed she was 70”, gave birth to her first child after receiving two years of IVF treatment. These births were all by donor eggs. Respectfully, the formulas we offer can provide excellent results, but in your case, a donor egg from a woman under 30 years of age via IVF is the only way you are likely to fall pregnant. If you wanted to use a treatment we offer to help you, it would be to use our IVF Support formula for three months prior to your donor egg IVF transfer. https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/ivf-support/
I wish you all the best on your fertility journey.
Dr. Scott Martin

I am 45 years old and I had x3 miscarriages recently, my AMH level is 0.06 and FSH was 17. can your product of Ovance help me to conceive naturally or through IVF?.
Also is it ok to take DHEA with Ovance together?

Hi Niki, thanks for contacting us. The fact you are falling pregnant is a very good sign. Your recurrent miscarriages are a problem that also needs to be addressed. Using Ovance and RPM can raise your AMH levels and improve your egg quality.
See the solution here https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/product/ovance-and-rpm-combination/.

I strongly encourage you to also use Safe & Secure Baby to prevent miscarriage once you fall pregnant: see it here https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/product/safe-secure-baby-prevent-miscarriage/ You should use it for the first 6 months of your pregnancy.

Your AMH levels are too low for DHEA to have a positive effect. You can read more about AMH and DHEA here:
https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/does-dhea-improve-egg-quality/

HI, Im 48 year old with 4 live natural easy conceiving births. I know my age is old but had been evaluated with an RE and was reported to have 0.7 AMH level. My spouse and I both have children and recently got married last year and would like one of our own together. Am i just too late for conceiving or can i try to take these supplements for my AMH . I now understand how it is to not have child. It breaks my heart that me and my husband want a child together but haven’t conceived after 2 years.

Hi Sue, thank you for your question. Natural pregnancies at 48 are extremely rare. Our formulas can be miraculous under certain circumstances, but I am hesitant to suggest that a course of treatment with our formulas will get you the results you want. If you would like to talk directly, you can book an online consultation here https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/personal-consultations/

Hi Dr Martin
I am 46 yrs old . Ever since my teenage years I have had irregular periods. I have one child who is 18 years old. After giving birth I had a 4 years period of not having a period. I now have periods of every 4-6 weeks. I have AMH of 0.083 and A1c of 5.8 do you think you formula can increase my chances of becoming pregnant? I also now follow a low carb diet and am losing weight.

Hello Yvette, thank you for your question. The formulas we offer are specifically designed to promote pregnancy and cover all the necessary bases to make a pregnancy happen. That being said, natural pregnancies over 45 are the exception, not the rule. Your AMH levels are very low. Knowing your day 3 FSH levels are more important than your BGL’s. Please go to this page and compare your AMH and FSH levels to the results of our research. This way you can get an accurate estimation of how likely our formulas are to work for you. https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/see-the-results/

Hey Dr.
I hope you’re doing well.
You are such an asset on this earth, you know I went through all your videos and blogs, and all of these were boosting my faith, even before I start my treatment I can feel I am already conceiving.
Regards.
Dorris.

Hi
At 43 years old what is best product to order from your site to take to improve egg quality and conception?

I Have had every tedt possible snd have been told there isnothing wrong it just comes down to my egg QUALITY, we also tried IVF, DHEA, and every other product out there, so wanting to give this a go. I have fallen pregnant 3 times in the last 1.5 years but keep having miscarriages at around 6 weeks (these were said to be due to my age and egg quality).

Also, if I buy the Safe & Secure product can I continue to take Elevit with it at the same time?

Thank you

We have 2 specific formulas to improve egg quality – Ovance and Ovance RPM combination. Take your time to look at the different combinations we offer to find what best suits your needs. You can also read the eBook I wrote, it helps you understand, diagnose and treat fertility problems simply and easily – it will help you know what best to use. And yes, having Safe Baby on hand is a very good idea for when you fall pregnant next. All of our products are safe to tkae with Elevit.

Hi Dr Martin,
I’m over 40 and I just got Married. Me and my spouse never had children before. I had a history of uterine fibroids and my last baseline tests was donated “unsatisfactory” when compared to women my age.
In the past my belly will protrude a little as if I was pregnant and then my periods will start’ and will last for a week or 2days more, I’m worried sick now that I might loose my periods (which had been irregular for years) before I can be able to get pregnant as it was discolored last month and lasted for just a day.
Can i book consultation so you can know more about my infertility issue if possible?
Thanks in advance
Regards

Hello Dr

I would like to know if a AMH of ,440 low and can I still get pregnant weed with a normal FSH

Hi Jahrya, thanks for your question. Normal day 3 FSH levels are a good indicator for AMH recovery using the Ovance + RPM formulas we offer. The higher day 3 FSH levels become, the harder it is for any treatment to have an effect. Day 3 FSH levels of 16 IU/L and above render IVF ovarian stimulating hormone therapy ineffective. We have found that once FSH levels get above 40 IU/L recovery is hard, and above 60 IU/L recovery unlikely.
To conclude, the lower day 3 FSH levels are, the higher the chance of positive recovery, regardless of how low AMH levels may be.
Here is the link to our solution https://www.advancedfertilitysolutions.com/product/ovance-and-rpm-combination/

Hi,
I am 50 years old with an AMH of .165 and FSH of 11….I got naturally pregnant at 47 but miscarried at 9 weeks. Do you think the medications you have can help me or is egg donation my only option at this point?
Thanks so much!

Hi Renee, thanks for the question. It is most likely egg donation will be the most effective and cost-efficient way to achieve your pregnancy. Pregnancies for women using their own eggs over 50 are very rare. IVF procedures attempting to use a woman’s own eggs for pregnancy over 50 are expected to fail. Best of luck on your fertility journey.

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