The Fertility Center of Las Vegas

Pregnancy after 40 is possible, often thanks to fertility treatments

More women are waiting to start their families, so pregnancy after 40 is becoming more common. However, many women will need a little help from our Las Vegas fertility doctors to conceive during this decade of life. Treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and donor eggs are among some of the most common ways that women conceive after 40.

The reasons why pregnancy after 40 can be difficult to achieve

Although men make sperm throughout their lives, women are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Additionally, a woman’s egg quantity and quality decrease with age. These facts explain why it can be difficult to achieve pregnancy after 40.

  • Diminished ovarian reserve (egg supply). A woman who is 40 typically has less than a 5% chance of becoming pregnant each month. This is compared to a 30-year-old woman who has a 20% chance of conceiving with each cycle.
  • Chromosomal abnormalities in eggs. As a woman ages, so do her eggs. At 40, a woman’s eggs are more likely to contain chromosomal abnormalities that could lead to miscarriage, implantation failure or birth defects.

Our Las Vegas fertility doctors do have good news. A woman’s uterus does not age as quickly as her eggs. As a result, it is still possible for a woman to safely carry a pregnancy in her 40s and sometimes even her 50s. She just may need fertility treatments to make pregnancy possible.

Ways to conceive after age 40

Having a pregnancy after 40 is possible. However, time is of the essence, especially if you want to use your own eggs. We recommend scheduling an appointment with our Las Vegas fertility doctors if you have been unable to conceive after six months of trying. The following recommendations can also help you welcome a healthy baby.

  • Take care of your health. Your physical health affects your reproductive health. As a result, you should eat a balanced diet, get moderate physical activity, take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid, and avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and recreational drugs.
  • Be open to fertility treatments. For women over 40, our team may recommend treatments that could include IVF, egg donation and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). These treatment options produce the best success rates for women over 40.

When you visit The Fertility Center of Las Vegas (FCLV), know that we will thoroughly review your medical history and test results. We’ll also consider your family-building goals to develop the treatment protocol that is most likely to help you welcome a healthy baby. To get started with FCLV, contact us to schedule a consultation.