How Old Is Too Old To Conceive?

Isn’t it dangerous? Will you get your AARP card before your kid graduates high school? Won’t you feel out of place around younger parents?

These are some of the questions asked of women who get pregnant later in life. Even worse, pregnancies after age 35 are sometimes still labeled “advanced maternal age,” a term that can feel more alarming than informative. Fortunately, advances in reproductive medicine and more proactive family planning have widened the window in which a woman can safely carry a pregnancy. Whatever you are planning, and whatever age you are now, understanding the relationship between fertility and age can help you decide what is next.

What Changes With Age, and What Doesn’t

Every woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and that number declines steadily over time. Egg quality changes too, and that is a separate factor from egg count. Fertility often begins a gradual decline in a woman’s early 30s, with a more noticeable shift after age 35. The exact age this becomes significant varies from woman to woman, which is why a calendar age alone does not tell the full story.

Age affects men and sperm as well, though the timeline is generally more gradual, with changes often beginning around age 40 to 45.

The combination of these factors can make conceiving and carrying a pregnancy more challenging the older you get. That does not mean it is not possible. Simple, proactive planning can expand your options.

Keep Your Options Open

While conceiving naturally can get more challenging with age, there is more you can do today than ever before. Advances in egg retrieval and freezing mean women can preserve younger eggs, or embryos, for use later in life. If you are not sure when you will want to grow your family, preserving your eggs or embryos is one way to keep that option open.

When to Consider an Evaluation

General guidance suggests:

• Women under 35 who have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success may benefit from an evaluation.
• Women 35 and older who have been trying for 6 months may want to move to testing sooner, given the shorter runway.
• Anyone with irregular cycles, a history of pelvic surgery, endometriosis, PCOS, or a partner with a known fertility factor may benefit from earlier testing, regardless of age.

An evaluation typically starts with a review of your health history, followed by targeted testing for both partners, such as hormone bloodwork and imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes. Learn more about fertility testing and diagnosis.

How Old Is Too Old to Have a Baby?

The honest answer is: it depends. Every family is different, and with medical support and monitoring, it may be possible to have a healthy pregnancy later in life than ever before. If you are planning ahead, or just want to understand your options, a fertility assessment with one of our specialists is a good next step.