Odds of Getting Pregnant by Age

Even with the improvement of diets and lifestyles, advancements in science and medicine, and advanced treatments for all manner of illnesses, fertility is still dictated by nature. Whether one is male or female, fertility will decline as you get older. For men, this is observed more significantly in their 40s, while for women, this is observed around their mid to late 30s. 

In order to understand human fertility better, we shall look at the factors that cause fertility to decline. As well, we shall address some things that affect the success of conception through the different phases of one’s reproductive years. 

Fertility for Females

If you were born with a uterus, you had the highest number of eggs even before you were born. Your reproductive years begin just about the time you begin menstruating. With each menstrual cycle, your ovarian reserves continue to be diminished. When you hit your 30s, this decline is significant, and progresses even more quickly through to your 40s and 50s. 

With this decline comes a decline in the production of estrogen in the body, which causes a gradual decrease and cessation of menstruation. Although natural fertility declines with age, modern medicine has made it possible for females to choose to become pregnant later in life. As a result there has been a great reduction in pregnancies occurring in the teen to 20 age bracket. 

As well, an increase in pregnancies occurring after age 35 have been observed. This has largely been influenced by assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which in and of itself has increased significantly. Be that as it may, not everyone who can become pregnant chooses to use ART therapies to conceive. Those who desire to become pregnant naturally have to contend with fertility timeframes. 

Before we proceed it is important to point out that in cognizance of the fact that each individual is as unique as their fingerprints, the following information is shared as a general guideline, rather than the rule of reproductivity. The goal is to give insight into the likelihood of pregnancy in each decade. What it shows is how fertility declines based on a person’s age.

Fertility in Your 20s

The ovarian reserve of a person in their 20s is higher than what it would be later in life. Even so, the general odds of getting pregnant lie between 15 and 25 percent. So within these odds, the chances of a person in their 20s conceiving naturally is 85 percent within a year of trying consistently. 

Fertility in Your Early 30s

When one gets into their 30s, still considering the general odds of pregnancy, the chances of natural conception reduce by 10 percent. Meaning that within a year of trying to conceive naturally, the likelihood is at 75 percent.

Fertility in Your Late 30s

Whereas fertility drops by 10 percent between a person’s 20s and 30s, in their late 30s, there is another significant decline of almost 10 percent. The chances of becoming pregnant naturally fall to 66 percent. In effect, fertility in the entire decade drops by about 19 percent in total. Yet ironically, these are still quite positive odds.

Fertility in Your Early 40s

As we had earlier stated, fertility in the 30s and 40s begins to decline significantly. By the time a person gets into their 40s, fertility has again declined by about 22 percent. So a person in their early 40s who is trying to become pregnant naturally, has a 44 percent chance, and the chances steadily decline each year. 

Another factor that affects pregnancy is that when a person is in their 30s or below, the likelihood of them having a miscarriage is 16 percent. However, as a person approaches their 30s and 40s the likelihood of miscarriage increases significantly to about 27 percent. 

Fertility in Your Mid-to-Late 40s

Trying to conceive naturally is almost impossible once a person reaches their mid 40s onward. Consequently, those who wish to become pregnant at this time in their lives are more likely to use fertility treatments. Thankfully, these have been very successful in helping people to build their families. 

Fertility for Men

For men, your reproductivity is pretty much guaranteed throughout your life. However, past the mid 30s, sperm quality declines, as well sperm count and the volume of sperm naturally produced. Once you are into your 40s another concern is erectile dysfunction. With all these factors in play, any children you may produce are likely to have health related problems.

To Sum It Up

As we have seen, at this point in human history, even with technological advances, not much can be done to prevent our fertility from declining as we become older. Assisted reproductive technology has given people a better chance of building their families on their own terms. If you would like to know more about family building options available to you, at your current age, contact the experts at Ivy Fertility in any of our countrywide locations.