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Original poster

AIBU to think very very few people get pregnant at 50?

84 replies

iamamickey · 13/09/2025 08:06

So I’m 50. Married to an older man and we have sex probably 2-3 times a month. It’s ok we are happy with that.

I had my implant removed and am waiting on a coil being fitted. But I’m hearing awful stories about it.

Surely it’s not that easy to fall pregnant at my age with a husband 10 yrs my senior?

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 13/09/2025 11:07

Silverbirchleaf · 13/09/2025 10:50

Probably not, but whether they had help or not, proves you can still carry a pregnancy at fifty.

Show quote history

Yes but the OP was asking about her chances of conceiving, not carrying to term.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 13/09/2025 11:02

Why on earth would you take that risk just to have unprotected sex, grim.

Pollqueen · 13/09/2025 10:54

My friend was born in 1970. Her mum was 51 and had 8 kids. She was the last

Silverbirchleaf · 13/09/2025 10:50

KimberleyClark · 13/09/2025 10:42

And you think they were natural conceptions?

Show quote history

Probably not, but whether they had help or not, proves you can still carry a pregnancy at fifty.

KimberleyClark · 13/09/2025 10:42

Silverbirchleaf · 13/09/2025 10:12

Unlikely, but not impossible.

Janet Jackson had her first child at fifty. Victoria Coren Mitchell was fifty one when she had her second.

And you think they were natural conceptions?

Flocke · 13/09/2025 10:32

FlorrieStockton · 13/09/2025 09:40

One of my friends has a very large family and does not believe in contraception for religious reasons. She got pregnant last year at 53, but had a miscarriage, she always tracks her menstrual cycle and tests early for pregnancy, but it made me wonder if quite a few people conceive in their fifties but having an older body means it's hard to sustain the pregnancy?
So personally if I were you I would use some form of barrier protection.

It’s not the older body that causes miscarriages. It’s the older eggs having chromosomal issues and possibly hormonal issues. Plenty of women over 50 could easily sustain a pregnancy using young donor eggs.

defrazzled · 13/09/2025 10:25

DM's friend had twins at 52, her elder daughter was 30 and also had twins that year! She thought it was menopause and so didn't test and find our until she was 5 months pregnant! Do not take risks!

AngelinaFibres · 13/09/2025 10:25

FlorrieStockton · 13/09/2025 09:40

One of my friends has a very large family and does not believe in contraception for religious reasons. She got pregnant last year at 53, but had a miscarriage, she always tracks her menstrual cycle and tests early for pregnancy, but it made me wonder if quite a few people conceive in their fifties but having an older body means it's hard to sustain the pregnancy?
So personally if I were you I would use some form of barrier protection.

I believe the stats are that 1 person in 100 gets a live birth at or over 50.

Icecreamandcoffee · 13/09/2025 10:22

Unlikely but not impossible. Sometimes the body has a menopausal hormone surge and pregnancy occurs - did happen to a friend of my mum who had countless rounds IVF at huge expense for 2 children 20+ years ago (when IVF was rather new) but conceived naturally completely out of the blue at 52 despite years and years of unprotected sex. She was very much an outlier though. Sadly the child (now young adult) is very medically complex and has profound disabilities.

Most celebrities/ rich people who conceive post 50 do so due to IVF/ fertility treatment/ surrogates ect.

AngelinaFibres · 13/09/2025 10:21

Almostwelsh · 13/09/2025 08:54

Don't be fooled by the live birth rate at this age. This is highly unlikely, even if it occasionally happens. What is more likely to happen is a pregnancy followed by a miscarriage. I wouldn't want to put myself through that.

This. My periods were horrendously heavy at 50. I cant imagine the physical awfulness of an actual miscarriage at 50.

Silverbirchleaf · 13/09/2025 10:12

Unlikely, but not impossible.

Janet Jackson had her first child at fifty. Victoria Coren Mitchell was fifty one when she had her second.

Jamclag · 13/09/2025 10:06

I think the chance of you conceiving at 50 are less than 1 percent and your chance of carrying that pregnancy to term even slimmer. I have read lots of threads where people know someone who knows someone who conceived at this age or beyond but I've never seen a claim of first hand experience.

Still - if you're worried use another barrier method until you've not had a period for 12 months.

Lafufufu · 13/09/2025 10:06

You could...You'll likely miscarry but who would want to go through all that stress and upset???

He should really get a vasectomy

Sogfree · 13/09/2025 10:04

I had my smear last month.

My nurse talked about all the surprise pregnancies patients 50+ had.

I posted this information on another thread in response to a 47 yr old user joking about pregnancy. They then reported 2 weeks later they'd miscarried.

Not worth the risk.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/09/2025 09:56

Disco2022 · 13/09/2025 09:52

Yeah he has to get the snip, and get over his "doctor phobia" because that not a real thing and having a high risk pregnancy and/or miscarriage is a real thing.

Or just accept they’re doing condoms or non PIV alternatives till she’s got the coil.

Disco2022 · 13/09/2025 09:52

Yeah he has to get the snip, and get over his "doctor phobia" because that not a real thing and having a high risk pregnancy and/or miscarriage is a real thing.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/09/2025 09:45

iamamickey · 13/09/2025 09:12

I’m afraid he wouldn’t consider the snip. He’s 60 and seriously doctor phobic. We have been together a very long time and I don’t think we ever used condoms. Might be worth a play with I guess.

If he’s doctor phobic I’m sure he won’t want you to take the slight risk of pregnancy (miscarriage included) - I bet he wouldn’t risk it if his type of ‘people’ could get pregnant.

VickyEadieofThigh · 13/09/2025 09:45

ViciousCurrentBun · 13/09/2025 09:23

I have had 2 coils fitted and it was fine, the key is to relax if you tense up during any procedure it will always make it worse. You can’t make pain go away by thought but you can certainly improve the situation or make it worse. Fear and pleasure release chemicals in the brain, it’s why some reach for chocolate biscuits and some jump out of planes.

I asked for anaesthetic when I had a Mirena fitted aged 46 (I had dreadful experiences with smear tests). They said they give me a mild sedative - it knocked me right out!

FlorrieStockton · 13/09/2025 09:40

One of my friends has a very large family and does not believe in contraception for religious reasons. She got pregnant last year at 53, but had a miscarriage, she always tracks her menstrual cycle and tests early for pregnancy, but it made me wonder if quite a few people conceive in their fifties but having an older body means it's hard to sustain the pregnancy?
So personally if I were you I would use some form of barrier protection.

KimberleyClark · 13/09/2025 09:38

sashh · 13/09/2025 08:27

Your DH could have the snip.

But it has happened in my family. Cherie Blaire was, I think 45 ish when she had her youngest.

Is it worth taking the chance?

Cherie Blair also got pregnant again after Leo but miscarried.

It is very rare though OP.

jeaux90 · 13/09/2025 09:38

Don’t risk it OP. If he won’t have the snip (my partner did and it’s liberating) then condoms it is!!

anyolddinosaur · 13/09/2025 09:34

It's unlikely but f you conceive the odds of either miscarriage or a child with severe health issues is quite high. I wouldnt risk it.

zazazooms · 13/09/2025 09:34

My colleague retired early at 56 when her daughter started reception.
Her other daughter was 35!

SteelyEyed · 13/09/2025 09:31

Statistically if you put 100 women like you (ie infrequent sex, no assisted fertility, same age) in a test group for a year, not one of them would have a live birth as a result of that year of trying.

honestly common sense says it’s not gonna happen so ignore the anecdotes, it’s like ‘my cousin’s friend was struck by lightning’

RoseAylingEllisFanClub · 13/09/2025 09:29

Your husband is doctor-phobic. That puts him at higher risk of serious and terminal illness because he is more likely to grit his teeth than address potentially serious issues.

What would it look like if you were widowed in your mid-to-late 50s with a child?