Odds of Getting Pregnant by Age

In this day and age, becoming older has become a more graceful task than in previous centuries. With modern medicine, and advanced treatments for illnesses, as well as healthier diets, both men and women alike are enjoying their sunset years more than before.

The same cannot be said about fertility. Fertility declines with age whether you are born male or female. For women in particular, this decline is observed from their mid to late 30s and more rapidly through their 40s. Similarly, as men approach their 40s they may begin to experience erectile dysfunction and lowered sperm quality.

So let us look in more detail at how age affects fertility, and what the odds of getting pregnant by age are. As well, we shall highlight some factors that affect conception at different stages of a person’s reproductive years.

Female Fertility

For people born with a uterus, as they begin their 30s, the number of eggs in the ovaries may start to decline, advancing more rapidly as they approach their early 40s.

Nowadays people are choosing to become pregnant later in their lives,  presenting new and unique challenges for conception. In America, pregnancies at age 20 or below have decreased, first pregnancies are occurring at age 25 on average, and pregnancies after the age of 35 have increased. 

As a result, the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has also increased. There are still those who would prefer to conceive naturally, and for those, knowing the time frame and factors influencing fertility is important.

The following information is shared as a general guideline to offer insight into how likely a person is to become pregnant by decade. It shows the decline in fertility based on a person’s age. It is shared with the understanding that individuals are uniquely different, and as such, there may be outliers.

Fertility in Your 20s

Conceiving a child is easiest in the 20s, with natural conception having an 85 percent chance of success.

Fertility in Your Early 30s

In the 30s, the likelihood of conceiving naturally decreases to 75 percent, within a year of trying.

Fertility in Your Late 30s

Although the chances of natural conception drop further to about 66 percent around the mid 30s, these are still positive odds.

Fertility in Your Early 40s

By the age of 40, the odds of natural conception declines to a 44 percent chance, but these odds continue to decline steadily with each subsequent year.

Again, in the late 30s and early 40s, the risk of miscarriages significantly increases to about 27 percent, from about 16 percent at age 30 or below.

Fertility in Your Mid-to-Late 40s

Natural conception from the mid to upper 40s is near impossible, and this leads many toward assisted reproductive technology if they want to become pregnant.

Male Fertility

If you are born with testicles and a penis, erectile dysfunction is the main concern, particularly after the age of 40. Although you are likely to still produce sperm naturally,  the quality of sperm declines with age and is more harmful to any potential offspring.

In Summary

As we age, our fertility declines. With assisted reproductive technology, there is a better chance of becoming pregnant. Be that as it may, the experts at Ivy Fertility are available to help you to know your family building options. You may contact us at any of our locations countrywide. 

Fertility FAQs

How many eggs are people born with?

Women have about 6 million eggs in the womb, but by the time they are born, they have between 1 and 2 million eggs. By puberty, this number is 300,000. 

When does fertility decline?

Natural fertility declines throughout adulthood with significant declines in the late 30s and 40s.

What age are people most fertile?

The most fertile period in a female’s life is in the late teens to early 20s, while males are most fertile between 25 and 29 years.