What Are The Chances of Getting Pregnant At 43?
87Wanting to Get Pregnant at 43
This is a question that, if you have found this page, you may be asking of yourself and indeed I also wondered. I spent a long time investigating this issue when it came into my mind that at the age of 43, I was finally ready to have a child.
Whether it is your first child or you already have a child or children from a previous or current relationship, the issue is the same, is it too late to have a child at the age of 43? For me it was a case of not really being too bothered about having children, particularly in my twenties. In my thirties I did think about it briefly when I was in a stable relationship but it turned out not to be the right time. Now that I had reached 43, and was not in a relationship, I figured it was my time, albeit possibly too late.
Fertility Levels in Women Over 40
Anyway, I did a lot of researching about the levels of fertility in women over 40. It seems like there is a big difference between trying to conceive at age 40 and conceiving at age 43. The chances seem to drop drastically after age 40. However, as much as I investigated, I couldn’t find any consensus on the actual statistical chances, which ranged from 5% to 38%. I guess it is difficult to conduct a decent study when you need to find people who are actually trying to get pregnant at that age. Of course in studies like that are you also going to catch people who are not trying but do accidentally get pregnant when they are over 40?
So, I suppose that what you need to know, if you think you might be pregnant, or you just want to get pregnant, is that there is a chance. What more really do you need to know than that? If there is a chance then you are going to try right? As long as you are still having regular periods then that is a good start. OK so maybe if you know what the actual chances are then you can build your hopes and expectations accordingly but let’s face it, we all know that the chances of getting pregnant at 43 are less than those at 40 and significantly less than the chances of conceiving in your thirties and knowing that they are slim is not going to stop us trying.
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The Bad News
What you also need to know is that the chances of miscarriage in your 40s are hugely increased, so even if you do manage to get pregnant then be aware of this fact. I have heard that as many as 30% of pregnancies of women aged 43 miscarry. Although this is worrying, as long as you are conscious of this then you can also prepare yourself for any possible eventuality.
Added to that is the possibility of birth defects, which is also much higher in women over 40. Then there is the decision as to whether or not to have an amniocentesis to check for Down's Syndrome and whether this will even matter to you. It is for sure more stressful to try and have a baby over 40 so you need to be well informed of the possible situations that may occur.
The Good News
Well the good news is that it really is possible to get pregnant at 43. There are a few things that you need to think about - firstly it is going to take longer than it might do otherwise - but don't let this put you off, as long as it is still possible then you have a chance every month.
Also, make sure you have all of your testing done as soon as possible. Your doctor can check your hormone levels to ensure that you are still ovulating and you can get your tubes checked too to make sure there are no blockages. Doctors will usually check you out within 6 months of starting to try to get pregnant.
You should also get your partner checked out with a Semen Analysis. Even if he has kids from a previous relationship then his levels could have changed in the interim. Having said that, if the results are not so good there are things that he can do to make them better.
Check out the ideas on supplements that you can take to increase your chances of getting pregnant and ways to monitor your cycles to ensure that you have sex at the right times.
So, to anyone who is trying to get pregnant at 43, or any age over 40, I wish you luck and as I go on I will share my story with you.
Book Recommended By A Reader
 | This book was recommended by a reader (see comments below by 'worthitx2') as highly recommended to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage, which seems like a large percentage of those who are over 40, if not all people trying to get pregnant. Amazon Price: $11.42 List Price: $18.95 |
The book above is also available from Amazon UK and you can find it here.
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I am 29 yrs and i am suffuring to get prenant i need help
Hi gill, the most important thing is to get your timing right. You need to know when you ovulate to know when the best timing is to have sex. Check out my other article on 'when will I ovulate' for more info. If you have been trying for a year to get pregnant then you can go and see your doctor for some tests to check everything is working. Good luck.
im 43 and its totally impossible
Why do you say that sue? There are plenty of women getting pregnant at 43 but it just might take a bit longer.
after 4 children with my husband of 17 years, I thought my family was complete. After he left I met someone, who was younger and he wanted a child. After 2 years together I thought I'd let mother nature decide if it was meant to be. I fell pregnant the first month after having my IUD removed! Unfortunately we lost this one at 9 weeks but I fell pregnant again within a month, but again losing at 11 weeks this time. 2 months later I was pregnant again and went on to have a beautiful baby girl 5 days after my 43rd birthday. I read all the stats about conceiving over 40 and warned him that it might not happen, but where do they get these from? Mainly from those who come forward with problems, who may have had problems in their 30s and 20s anyway. If you're fit and health, give it a try. I conceived 3 times in 10 months. My daughter is perfect. She walked at 9 months and at 11months is already saying her first words!!
If you worry too much, you put pressure on yourself and your body and you take the fun out of your relationship. You can time things perfectly but after 5 kids I know that the timings isn't always as you expect, number 4 was a result of avoiding my fertile time!!!! The key is, to have sex as often as possible. Don't put all the emphasis onto one or two days, make it fun, relax, enjoy and await the results...Good luck girls xxx
Thanks mumx5 what a great story. I have to say I agree you hear more about problems but no so much about the many successes. I take inspiration from your story. X
I too am 43, had a miscarriage at 12 weeks last year, and so want another baby, but finding it so difficult :( every time my period is late I get all excited only to feel let down when it comes, been trying for 8 months now and nothing, begining to feel its not gonna happen.
Hi Susan, I'm so sorry about your miscarriage and how difficult you are finding it. It sucks that it can take us so long to get pregnant at this age and then even when we do the stress is not over. I really hope you get to have a full term baby. Chances are that if you have managed to get pregnant once then you can again but the question we have to ask ourselves is how long we keep trying for as more often than not it is going to take a while. I wish you the best of luck.
Hi Butterfly. I have gotten pregnant twice. Once at 41yr and once at 42 yr. both naturally, both miscarriages. In a previous post you mentioned that you conceived at 44yr. Are you still pregnant? Did you conceive naturally?
Hi sadiegirl. Unfortunately I am no longer pregnant as I miscarried at 8 and a half weeks. Now my cycles are back to normal I am trying again and hope I manage to get one that sticks. Yes I did conceive naturally. I hope you also get pregnant again and get your baby. I think it is just down to our age that we are more likely to miscarry. Best of luck. X
Its such a journey we girls have to go on. I had a beautiful baby, no problems, at 38. Fell pregnant almost straight away.
I then went on to suffer 3 miscarriages. Each seemed to get more horrendous as I lost each one a few more weeks into the pregnancy, had loads of sickness with them too (some say that's a good sign - I say it makes no difference!)
Finally at 42 years old, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. No Downs, no probs.
Now I'm 43 and I'm 2 days late.... I know the odds are less than 10% now for a live birth at my age, 43, probably a lot less with 3 miscarriages behind me, so I'm trying to prepare myself for a realistic re-take of what I know is likely to happen. Its great to be optimistic but miscarriage is a harsh reality.
For anyone who has suffered miscarriage or is trying to get pregnant I do recommend a book called 'Coming to Term'. Its brilliant with loads of insight and cuts to the chase, written by somone we can relate to.
Good luck to you,ladies, when you look at the stats, its a miracle with all the hurdles anyone gets pregnant but we do. You can't alter your age, its out of our hands, all you can do is try.
Worthitx2 I just want to say thanks so much for your post that really moved me and I wish you good luck. I will try and find a link to the book you have recommended. X
Hi Butterfly67, thanks for your lovely note, just to confirm the book is 'Coming to Term, Uncovering the Truth about Miscarriage'.
Rather than written by a dr, its written by Jon Cohen, a Science Correspondent, whose has been a parent of multiple miscarriages himself, and as a result of what happened to him and his wife, decided to take the plunge into the vast cavern of the relatively unknown world of miscarriage - the book is scientific, emotional and personal, with case studies, his scientific interviews, and his own story.... think I bought it on Amazon.
Meanwhile, I'm still going to the loo, and expecting to find blood on the tissue.... jeez. Take care Butterfly67, hang in there, you just never know. X
Hi Worthitx2, thanks for that, I found the book on Amazon so have added a link to it in the article. x
hi all . im 42 i have 3 boys age 24,21,2 ad a half ad got preganat 9 months after my little boy .i was told i was having a baby girl ad was over the moon, untill 37 weeks i was told my baby died at 37 weeks so hard ..i am trying again but if i get preganatcould this happen again...
Hi angel4 I am so sorry for your loss. I am not a doctor but I understand that the chances of this happening again are minuscule. Sending you my best wishes. X
Butterfly
First, I am so sorry for your loss. I have had three miscarriages 1 at 9 weeks and 2 at 5 weeks in the last year and half. It is so heartbreaking.
I am thinking of trying one more time before giving up. Can you tell me what vitamins you are taking to increase egg quality?
Hi purplered, I'm so sorry for your losses too. It is indeed heartbreaking and I guess we have to decide how much we can take. I did a whole lot of investigating on what vitamins to take to improve egg quality and I wrote an article about it which you can find here: http://butterfly67.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Improve
I am currently taking CoQ10, maca and melatonin. I used royal jelly and bee pollen for a couple of months before I got pregnant. I haven't tried the DHEA yes as I feel like I am taking enough but I know a few ladies that are taking it and have even been recommended it by their fertility specialists.
I wish you the best of luck if you do decide to try again. x
Im 38 have 6yrs son,im trying for baby from 2010 no lucky,im stressed cause my age is bad,is there any chances,
Hi Nhlaks, yes indeed you have a good chance, especially as you know you can get pregnant. It just might take a bit longer this time so try and be patient. But really you have a good chance and compared to some you still have plenty of years in front of you. Good luck.
Thanks very much for ur comforting words,my hope is back now. U knw everyday im reading the tips to fall preg easily, and age issue all that worry me. I even read the preg signs and check if i dnt have any. Sometyms i think it caused by having first baby in 30s. Again thanks for advise.
Butterfly67 Hub Author 3 months ago
So after 10 months of trying I got pregnant at the age of 44. This was after a poor SA report but with both of us taking vitamins and supplements to improve egg and sperm quality.