Life cannot always be planned. Some women do not meet the man of their dreams until they are 40 and only now start thinking about starting a family. Now there is an important question: Is it even possible to get pregnant at 40?? To anticipate the answer: Yes!
How does fertility change over the years??
Fertility decreases slightly from the early 30s onwards. So women have an average 25% chance of getting pregnant at 25 per month. With beginning 30 it is with approximately 20 % already somewhat less. From the end of 30, pregnancy only occurs in around 10 – 12 % of cases per month. And over 40 years, the probability per month to get pregnant is about 5 – 8 %.
Why does fertility decrease?
A woman’s eggs are already fully formed at her own birth. There are no more new ones. At the same time, the number of eggs decreases over time. This is different for every woman. The egg reserve can be well estimated with an ultrasound examination and a hormone analysis. This process varies from woman to woman, for example, some women have a low egg reserve in their early 30s, while others still have a lot of eggs in their 40s.
In addition, the egg quality decreases over time and the proportion of eggs with genetic changes increases. The consequence: If an egg matures that has genetic changes, it is often not fertilized at all or cannot develop further at a very early stage, so that pregnancy does not occur. Even if ovulation fails to occur due to hormonal changes, pregnancy cannot occur in that month. This is the reason why it becomes more and more difficult to conceive a child with increasing age. The good news: You can try your luck again with every cycle. In addition, supportive fertility treatment can significantly increase the chances of success.
How can I fulfill my late wish for a child?
There are several options here. If it does not work within 6 months with a pregnancy, it is recommended to have the causes clarified. If, for example, there are cycle disorders and ovulation rarely or never occurs, if the fallopian tubes are blocked or if the partner’s sperm quality is insufficient, fertility treatment should begin soon.
Depending on the cause, the cycle can first be hormonally stimulated and the time of ovulation determined. With artificial insemination (IVF or ICSI), the chances of pregnancy increase significantly for many women. On the subpage "IVF" you will find details about the procedure. It is true that age also affects the chance of finally holding a positive pregnancy test in one’s hands. But at 40, the success rate is still about 23 percent on average. So it is much more difficult to have a child at 40, but not impossible. Every year the chances change.
The desire to have children at 40 – the experience of a patient
"After many years of wanting to have a child, my partner and I went to Dr. Man in treatment. Both in the hands of Mrs. Dr. We felt very well taken care of and looked after by our husband and the entire fertility team. It was possible to ask questions at any time during the entire treatment period, for which sufficient time was given.
In addition, Mrs. Dr. Mann through her friendly nature, the individual consultation, and the very nice practice rooms an atmosphere that makes the whole treatment pleasant. I really didn’t feel uncomfortable at any time in the practice.
And in our case it worked right from the first attempt 
So very big praise to Mrs. Dr. Husband and the entire KinderwunschTeam – keep up the good work! We like to come back ."
You would like to get a first glimpse of your hormones without waiting time?
Take our fertility test now and get your personal result within 48 hours.
Probability of pregnancy after IVF (source German IVF Register):
– 35 to 39 years: 31 %
– 40 years: 23
– 41 years: 18 %
– 42 years: 14
– 45 years: 6
After 45, fertility treatment is hardly promising and very rarely leads to pregnancy.
What can I do myself to get pregnant at 40??
Age is an important factor that affects your fertility, but there are other factors as well. You can’t change your age, but you can adjust your lifestyle. Here’s how you can actively help make your dreams of baby bliss come true.
Our tips for you:
– Check your cycle and find out when your fertile days are.
– If you smoke, stop.
– Drink a maximum of two cups of coffee per day.
– Avoid alcohol as much as possible during the fertility period.
– Avoid being underweight or overweight.
– Exercise regularly, but avoid extreme sports.
– Eat a Mediterranean diet, eat fish rather than meat, and avoid fast food. Replace high glycemic index carbohydrates with low glycemic index foods. So eat whole foods rather than rice and potatoes. You can find more information here.
– Make sure you are getting enough vitamin D.
– Take folic acid.
– General diseases you should have treated.
– Avoid smog and chemicals (BPA).
You can find more tips in the section "Getting pregnant."
To what extent does the risk increase with pregnancy at 40?
Unfortunately, the miscarriage rate increases with the years. This protective mechanism of nature leads to a miscarriage rate in 40-year-olds of ca. 30 % and in 42-year-olds at a rate of ca. 50 %. With early miscarriages, nature prevents non-viable babies with chromosomal damage or other defects from being born.
Other risks that increase with the years:
– Premature births
– Gestational diabetes
– Pregnancy-related high blood pressure
We will be happy to advise you personally in our practice to determine your risk profile. We also help to clarify the coverage of costs of private health insurance. Often she will also pay for treatment for those over 40 years of age.
Does the age of my partner matter?
Men can still father children at an older age. The decline in fertility in men is slower and later than in women. But from 40 years the sperm count and quality also decreases in men. In addition, the risk of miscarriage and, to a lesser extent, the risk of genetic diseases of the child increase.
Why go to a fertility doctor in Munich?
We stand for intensive care during the entire period of childbearing. You will be treated by one and the same fertility specialist from the initial consultation to diagnostics and therapy, so you will always have a personal contact person. We listen to your questions and discuss the possibilities, chances and risks of fertility treatment with you. You always decide for yourself which step you want to take. In addition to state-of-the-art treatment, you can also receive naturopathic therapy, nutritional counseling and psychological support if you wish. We are here for you!