In today’s society, women are prioritizing their education and careers, leading to an increasing number of women choosing to start a family in their 30s or 40s. While fertility naturally declines with age, the journey to conception can still hold unexpected discoveries and hopeful outcomes. Infertility over 40 doesn’t have to stop you from the family you have always dreamed of.

Infertility Over 40

If you find yourself in the category of trying to conceive over the age of 40, you probably already know that it comes with its unique set of age-related challenges. Then, if you add infertility to the mix, you may be left feeling defeated. However, if you have been diagnosed with infertility over 40, your dreams of starting a family do not have to stop there. Whether you’re exploring assisted reproductive technologies, considering alternative family-building options, or seeking to understand the factors that impact infertility over 40, Carolinas Fertility Institute has you covered. 

Infertility Over 40: 5 Things You May Not Know

While there is so much information available on the internet about infertility over 40, it is easy to get overwhelmed. At times it is difficult to determine what information is accurate. Below are 5 facts you may find surprising:

  1. Perimenopausal Women Can Still Conceive: Perimenopause can last for approximately 10 years, and during this time, the quality of a woman’s eggs significantly reduces. However, it is still possible to conceive during this time, depending on where your body is in the perimenopausal process.
  2. Your Fitness Level Isn’t as Important as You May Think: Although living a healthy lifestyle can help to boost fertility and aid in regulating ovulation, it does not increase the health of your eggs or the ovarian supply. This means that no matter how healthy you are, at times, infertility is still a factor. 
  3. The Age of Your Partner Matters: Although you hear more about the age of women, the age of the male partner is also important. Some studies have found that an increased paternal age can lead to a small increase in the risk for certain conditions, such as Autism and Schizophrenia.
  4. Multiples are More Likely: As a woman ages, her follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increases. High levels of FSH can cause the release of two or more eggs during ovulation, resulting in multiples.
  5. Time is of the Essence: At the age of 30, a woman has a 20% chance of conception in any given month. By 40, this monthly chance decreases to 5%. The reason behind this is a steady decline in egg quality as a woman ages.

Although the facts above may seem discouraging, with the help of a fertility expert, such as Carolina Fertility, your dream of starting a family can come to fruition. In fact, at Carolinas Fertility Institute, there are several ways women over 40 can start a family, including:

  • In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): This involves extracting the woman’s eggs and manually combining the egg and sperm. The embryo(s) are then transferred into the uterus.
  • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): This treatment method involves placing the sperm inside the uterus to aid in fertilization.
  • Egg Donor: This infertility treatment method combines the egg of a donor and the sperm of the partner. The embryo(s) are then transferred into the uterus of the patient.
  • Fertility Preservation: If you are a woman who knows she wants to start a family later in life, fertility preservation may be for you. Fertility preservation is the cryopreservation (freezing) of human reproductive tissue to be used later for IVF therapies or IUI. 

For more than 20 years, Carolinas Fertility Institute has been helping families achieve their parenting dreams. We have consistently achieved the highest IVF success rates in the country and specialize in infertility over 40. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a fertility expert.