Fertility and Age – Chances of Getting Pregnant at 20, 30, 40, and Beyond

Think you disclosed the mysteries of fertility? Think Deeper. While many women consider their fertility based solely on the arrival of their monthly cycles, the truth is far more intricate and fascinating. Let’s embark on a journey back to the very beginning — to the basics of female fertility.

If you possess ovaries, you were born with an astonishing 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 eggs, and these precious ova constitute your entire lifetime’s supply. Surprisingly, your ovaries don’t generate fresh eggs during your lifetime; rather, they are bestowed upon you even before your first breath. In a remarkable twist, a 20–week–old female fetus has about 7,000 000 (seven million) eggs in her ovarian reserve. The ovarian reserve diminishes far beyond a female bundle of joy has been introduced to this world. After the ovarian reserve has been “generated”, a female fetus starts losing the oocytes. Before being born, she will lose 5,000 000 (five) to 6,000 000 (six million) oocytes from her reserve. By the time she reaches puberty and begins menstruation (starts her periods) she will have somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 eggs remaining. Then by 37, that number goes down to 27,000, dwindling to 1,000 to 2,000 by menopause. Notably, these eggs are exposed to the cumulative effects of everything a woman encounters throughout her lifetime, resulting in a decline in both quantity and quality.

In terms of fertility, it’s essential to understand that during most menstrual cycles, one of your oocytes develops and matures, ready to be released from an ovary during ovulation, setting the stage for fertilization in the fallopian tube. However, to yield one good, mature egg, the process begins with many eggs developing synchronously. While hundreds of eggs might initiate this journey together, usually only one is ovulated. In some cycles, multiple mature oocytes are released, occasionally two or even rarely three or more. If all are fertilized, these oocytes can develop into embryos, and if they all reach the blastocyst stage and implant into the uterus, a multiple pregnancy can occur. The remaining eggs developed in the same cycle will typically perish.

Throughout a woman’s life, from her first period to her last, her ovaries will release nearly 500 mature eggs. The highest quality eggs are typically found in a woman’s mid–20s (starting at 25) through her early 30s (up to 34), marking the peak of fertility. However, after the early 30s, both the quality and quantity of eggs begin to decline, leading to a decrease in fertility potential, with the most substantial declines occurring in the mid–30s and early 40s. Once the ovarian reserve is depleted, and no oocytes remain, the ovaries cease to produce estrogen, and menopause ensues. For most women, this transition occurs around the age of 50, signifying the end of natural fertility and the potential need for fertility assistance.

Now that we have delved into the intriguing nuances of female fertility from the very beginning, understanding the diminishing ovarian reserve and its impact on fertility at different ages, let’s explore how these factors translate into your chances of getting pregnant across various stages of life. We will journey through the fertile decades, starting with the early 20s as the golden years for conception, moving into the robust fertility of the mid to late 20s, followed by the shifts in your early 30s, the challenges of your mid to late 30s, and finally, the unique considerations of your early 40s and beyond.

Each phase comes with its own set of fertility factors, opportunities, and potential hurdles, and we will discuss how to maximize your chances of natural conception at each age. So, whether you are just beginning to think about starting a family or considering options later in life, we will navigate the fascinating landscape of female fertility and parenthood possibilities.

Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your Early 20s (20 to 24)

Experts in reproductive health often refer to a woman’s fertility as a delicate and time–sensitive matter. When it comes to age and fertility, the early 20s (approximately 20 to 24 years old) are often considered the golden years for conception.

Conceiving in Early 20s:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from 150,000 to 300,000+ eggs in the early 20s.
Egg Quality: Up to 90% of oocytes are chromosomally normal.
The Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: Around 10%
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Approximately 25% or more.
The Risk of Miscarriage: Under 10%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: Generally 1 to 2 years.

The early 20s represent a prime window of opportunity for women seeking to start a family. The combination of high egg quantity and quality, along with favorable conception probabilities and lower miscarriage risks, makes this period an ideal time for those aspiring to conceive and embark on the path of parenthood.

Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your Mid–Late 20s (25 to 29)

In mid to late twenties, still there is a great chance to become pregnant as the whole 20s decade is the prime time of your fertility, ensuring that, barring specific health conditions affecting reproductive function, the road to pregnancy remains open and welcoming.

Conceiving in Mid–Late 20s:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from 150,000 to 300,000+ eggs in mid–late 20s.
Egg Quality: Up to 80% of oocytes are chromosomally normal.
Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: Approximately 19%.
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Remains at approximately 25% or higher.
Miscarriage Risk: Low, at 10%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: Generally 1 to 2 years.

In your mid–late 20s, the stars align to offer a fertile window of opportunity, and for many, it’s a time when the dream of parenthood can become a beautiful reality. While these statistics provide a general overview, it is essential to remember that individual experiences with fertility can vary. Consulting with a healthcare provider and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key factors in optimizing your chances of a successful and healthy pregnancy during this period.

Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your Early 30s (30 to 34)

Although the leading specialists and scientists say that fertility starts to decline during the early 30s, the odds of getting pregnant in your early thirties are still high for couples that try for a full year.

Conceiving in Early 30s:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from 100,000 to 150,000+ eggs in the early 30s.
Egg Quality: Up to 75% of oocytes are chromosomally normal.
Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: Approximately 25%.
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Remains at approximately 25% or higher.
Miscarriage Risk: Higher than in the 20s, ranging between 15% and 20%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: Generally 1 to 2 years.

In your early 30s, the pages of your reproductive story continue to be filled with promise. It’s a time when careful planning, good health, and perseverance can yield the cherished gift of parenthood.

Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your Mid–Late 30s (35 to 39)

Your mid to late 30s usher in a new chapter in the story of fertility, one where the narrative begins to evolve. These years are marked by unique considerations and challenges that individuals and couples contemplating parenthood should be aware of.

Conceiving in Mid–Late 30s:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from under 10,000 to 27,000+ eggs in mid–late 30s.
Egg Quality: Up to 65% of oocytes are chromosomally normal until 37, and up to 50% until 39.
Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: Approximately 35% to 50% depending on the age.
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Remains at approximately 20%.
Miscarriage Risk: Higher than in the early 30s, ranging between 25% and 30%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: Generally 1 to 2 years.

In your mid–late 30s, the pursuit of parenthood may present its own set of unique challenges and considerations. However, with the right information, proactive care, and available options, the dream of welcoming a healthy baby.

Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your Early 40s (40 to 44)

Entering your early 40s marks a significant shift in the landscape of fertility. As you age, both the quantity and quality of your eggs continue to decline, presenting unique challenges on your journey to parenthood.

Conceiving in Early 40s:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from under 5,000 to 10,000+ eggs in the early 40s.
Egg Quality: Up to 25% of oocytes may be chromosomally normal.
Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: Approximately 75%.
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Drops to 5%.
Miscarriage Risk: Ranges between 31% and 39%, and it can reach up to 50%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: Generally 1 to 2 years.

In your early 40s, it is essential to approach the journey to parenthood with a clear understanding of the unique challenges and available resources. Leveraging technology for tracking and considering assisted reproductive technologies can be valuable steps in your pursuit of a healthy pregnancy.

Chances of Getting Pregnant at Mid–Late 40s (45–49) and Beyond

Turning mid–late 40s, your reproductive system undergoes inevitable changes. Your ovarian reserve diminishes drastically, leaving you with roughly zero to 1,000 eggs. Egg quality deteriorates, and irregular ovulation, along with other potential health conditions, further decreases the chances of conceiving to less than 2% — in many cases, just 1% — per menstrual cycle.

Natural conception beyond the age of 50 is exceedingly rare, and most fertility clinics will recommend Egg Donation IVF as the primary treatment. However, success rates can be influenced by the thinning of the endometrial lining (uterine lining) associated with perimenopause or menopause. Therefore, if you find yourself in your early 50s and considering Egg Donor IVF, experts often advise opting for multi–cycle IVF to maximize the chances of success.

Conceiving in Mid–Late 40s and Beyond:

Egg Quantity: Typically ranges from 0 to 1,000 eggs in mid–late 40s.
Egg Quality: Less than 10% of oocytes may be chromosomally normal.
Risk of Ovulating a Chromosomally Abnormal Egg in Healthy Women: More than 90%.
Conception Probability in a Single Menstrual Cycle: Drops to 2% maximum.
Miscarriage Risk: Ranges between 53% and 75%.
The timeframe from Trying to Conceive (TTC) to a Positive Pregnancy Test: More than 2 years.

In your mid–late 40s, the path to conception presents unique challenges, and fertility treatments like IVF and Egg Donation IVF become essential options for those wishing to expand their families.

How to Increase Your Chances of Conceiving Naturally at Any Age?

Regardless of your age, understanding your body’s ovulation patterns can significantly enhance your chances of conceiving naturally. Timing is essential when it comes to optimizing your chances of getting pregnant. If you have regular cycles, you will typically ovulate around 2 weeks (14 days) before your next period. If you have a 26–day cycle, you will likely ovulate around day 12; and a person with a 34–day cycle would ovulate around day 20. The key to conceiving naturally is in having intimacy in the optimal fertility window — the days before and during ovulation. Whatever your date of ovulation, make a note to have a baby–making time in the five days before that day and for two days after This strategy ensures that the sperm cells are deposited in the fallopian tubes when the egg is released, and sperm–egg binding may turn into fertilization opportunity.

During the perimenopause phase, ovulation patterns can become irregular. In some months, you may ovulate once or even twice within a cycle, while in others, ovulation may not occur at all as no egg will be released, and as follows, no possibility of conceiving. Tracking ovulation can be helpful during this stage. The pattern of hormonal fluctuations can become quite chaotic during perimenopause, but tracking ovulation at home using an ovulation kit or starting an ovulation tracking cycle at an IVF clinic might be helpful. When using an Ovulation predictor kit, keep in mind that the test strips detect luteinizing hormone (LH), which surges right before ovulation. Once you get a positive result (check your test instructions for details), you should have much more baby–making time that day and the next. Fertility tends to fall off sharply afterward. These test kits are available at any pharmacy. If you decided to get help from a reproductive endocrinologist or any other expert in reproductive medicine, most likely during ovulation tracking you will have to undergo regular ultrasound scans and blood tests to detect the optimal timeframe for making a baby. Before starting an ovulation tracking, you will have to complete a fertility evaluation to determine whether a medicated or natural cycle is suitable, depending on your individual needs and circumstances.

In summary, the journey to parenthood is a unique and personal one, influenced by a variety of factors including age. By understanding your body’s natural rhythms and considering the available medical options when necessary, you can empower yourself to make informed decisions and increase your chances of conceiving, no matter where you are on your path to starting or expanding your family.

Resources:

1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Title: Having a Baby After Age 35: How Aging Affects Fertility and Pregnancy

Link: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/having-a-baby-after-age-35-how-aging-affects-fertility-and-pregnancy

2. Thebmj

Title: Role of maternal age and pregnancy history in risk of miscarriage: prospective register-based study

BMJ 2019; 364 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l869

Authors: Maria C Magnus, Allen J Wilcox, Nils-Halvdan Morken, Clarice R Weinberg, Siri E Håberg

Link: https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l869#:~:text=Results There were 421 201,women aged 45 and over.

3. International Journal of Women’s Health

Title: Management of Pregnancy in Women of Advanced Maternal Age: Improving Outcomes for Mother and Baby

Published online 2021 Aug 10. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S283216

Authors: Itamar Glick, Ela Kadish, Misgav Rottenstreich

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8364335/

4. PLoS One

Title: Cesarean section on a rise — Does advanced maternal age explain the increase? A population register-based study

Published online 2019 Jan 24. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210655

Author: Eva Rydahl, Eugene Declercq, Mette Juhl, Rikke Damkjær Maimburg

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6345458/#:~:text=Advanced maternal age at childbirth has been found to be,increased risk of cesarean section.

5. Insider

Title: How many eggs you’re born with plays a key role in fertility, but it's not the only factor

Written by Carla Delgado; edited by Jessica Orwig

Published on Nov 9, 2021

Link: https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/how-many-eggs-does-a-woman-have

6. London Egg Bank

Title: Egg quality and age

Link: https://www.londoneggbank.com/egg-quality/#:~:text=Up to 35 years old, quality can't be improved