Does it really gets hard to get pregnant after 35?

[Hupshup]

As the title, I am curious to understand if it gets really tough to fall pregnant after 35? I am 34 and on fence to have another one soon or try at 36.
I keep hearing all sorts of views from people on MN and outside. I have seen many women have children after 35, but still lots of pessimism around the age factor for women.
Please share your experiences.

Statistically yes but it varies by individual and it's not a cliff edge, more a steeper curve on average. Plenty conceive naturally into their 40's even as late as 50 but it becomes rarer, partly because we don't want to have any more babies so prevent them, partly due to miscarriage increasing and partly due to not releasing eggs as often, not ever month (though interestingly you are also more likely to release 2!)

I started TTC at 33 which I worried was going to take a long time because of my age but it took less than a month. Still deciding whether to have a second but I feel fairly confident I would be okay now at 35 (at 36 I would ideally want to be thinking about another baby if it's what we want).

We know two couples who decided to go for a second child in their late 30s and ended up with twins! This is actually a medical phenomenon where you tend to release more eggs at once after 35, maybe a last ditch measure from the body before it enters peri. (Both cases were definitely not IVF, they were open about it and also had 1 previous child each).

So yes, be warned! Late 30s might give nothing or it might give you twins.

First pregnancy at 34 first cycle. DC2 took 18 months of ttc with 1 miscarriage, finally got pregnant at 37. So for me it was much harder after 35. But I also started perimenopause at age 40 so that's likely a huge part of it

Well by 45 most women will be effectively infertile, so it just depends how gradually that happens in each individual. You have around a 5% chance of conceiving per cycle over 40.

Pick a graph.. any graph..

www.google.com/search?q=how.women%27s.fertility+decline.from.age+30+graph&client=ms-android-samsung-rev2&sca_esv=569758017&tbm=isch&prmd=inv&sxsrf=AM9HkKl3tg5TOB8qWA2ejmHhuQJ-T6MpUg:1696107731346&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjm887WndOBAxUkVqQEHeAcBCEQ_AUoAXoECAIQAQ&biw=384&bih=719&dpr=1.88 ....

Yes... it does..

Yes I didn't find it harder getting pregnant. I did find it harder staying pregnant.

No major issue here. Pregnant without really trying (one-off unprotected sex) age 37. That was a chemical but got pregnant again immediately after (without trying much). Age 40 took longer (5 cycles), but I did fall pregnant the very first cycle after I fully stopped breastfeeding.

I conceived faster at 34 than 29 (both times within 6 months). I know that's still under 35 but you'd expect fertility to perhaps start reducing a little? I think second (or third or fourth etc) babies over the age of 35 is still fairly commonplace

Conceived DC1 first “try” at 22, started TTC DC2 at 34 and what followed was two years of negative tests and one mc. I’ll be 37 before current pregnancy is (fingers crossed, please please) born in January 2024. Secondary infertility is very common, and there is often no reason for it.

Don’t delay, just because lots of people find it easy, doesn’t mean you will. (And vice versa of course)

It gets harder, gradually over time. It doesn't fall off a cliff at 35 though. I struggled to get pregnant and had IVF for my first at 32 and then got pregnant naturally at 35. More women than not can still get pregnant and have a successful pregnancy at 40, though the risks go up. Back when contraception wasn't a thing, people naturally stopped having babies at around 42 on average. And some women have successful pregnancies at 45.

Very unlikely a year will make a big difference but you can get a fertility mot to explore things. I got pregnant immediately at 35 x

If you really want another child then I think it would be unwise to delay any further.

Yes, your fertility will have declined since from 32 to 35. You will have fewer healthy eggs. No one can say exactly what that will mean for you personally. But statistically it is likely to take longer to conceive and there is an increased risk of miscarriage.

So imagine you start TTC at 36. But even healthy fertile couples can take 12 months to conceive. Then imagine you conceive, but miscarry at 2 months. Now you are 37 and starting from scratch, with your chances lesser again. The process could then repeat… and before you know it you’re 38 and will be at least 39 by the time the baby is born.

What is the reason for waiting and how much do you want another child?

Three pregnancies post 40...2 children born within 20 months. So, not everyone's fertility nose dives.

It depends. (Super scientific, right? 😉) I was 36 when we decided to try, and I was prepared for it to be difficult. My husband's favorite story to tell is how the fertility monitor said "today is the day," and when the monitor said "test" I did and I was pregnant. But I come from breeding stock, if you'll pardon that crassness. Every woman is different, and it's a discussion between you and your doctor what works best for you.

Statistically, it is far more difficult to get pregnant at 35. Our bodies weren't designed that way, our fertile years are younger, when we just happen to have less cellulite. 😂 (I apologize, I'm making jokes because that is how I cope. I don't mean to be rude. )

I conceived as quickly at 35 as I did at 25 (realise I was very lucky both times) but biologically we are more fertile in our 20s but it does depend on the person.

fertility doesn’t fall off a cliff at 35, but it does decline gradually. If you’ve had a kid already that’s positive but secondary infertility is common. As PP said, likely those who struggled above age 35 may have struggled earlier, as there’s actual issues. If you’re in a position to try now, I’d do it; but be prepared for it to take longer.

Depends on the individual OP.
I have gotten pregnant each time we have decided to.
Lost one along the way.
Some people really struggle.
No one can tell you what will happen.

To reiterate others... everyone is different too.

I had my eldest DD at 22, followed by 17 years of unexplained secondary infertility (saw various specialists who couldn't find any issues but didn't go through with any ivf).

Much to my surprise years later it happened (I was moaning at work how I was swamped and about the back log cause of the pandemic and realised I was late). DS is 17 months now. When he was 4 months I fell pregnant despite being on the pill and only having sex once since the c section - that was unfortunately a chemical pregnancy. A cycle later I fell pregnant with our youngest DD (and again, was on the pill and only had sex once lol), she's 16 weeks now and I got my tubes clipped during that section.

Now at 42 I never dreamed I'd have more kids, but here they are. Fertility is such a bizarre thing. All those years of nothing, then in the last 4 years 3 pregnancies.

Send help. I'm tired 🤣

Posts like this remind me there is such as a thing as a stupid question.

honestly, why not do some research, it’s quite a well known fact it’s harder to fall pregnant after 30, let alone 35.

No one can predict. I personally wouldn't put it off if I were you. It took us 6 months of proper trying at 35 and I was starting to worry. The NHS doesn't pay for IVF until you've been trying for 2 years, so if you wait till 36, and have the bad luck of needing IVF you might have to wait till 38.

If you had no problems at age 32, it’s unlikely there will be a problem at 36. I had mine at 35 and 38 and needed IVF for both.

I got pregnant at 36 and 40. No issues. Both planned

This is true. If you’ve managed to fall pregnant fairly easily at 32 luck is on your side that you will be able to do the same at 35.
If you need investigations, fertility treatments etc then starting ttc at 35 can mean you don’t have time to pursue all those things before your egg quality and chances of success are quite diminished. But it’s more than likely that couples who have significant issues would still have had them at 30.

Easily fell pregnant with my first age 36 (baby born at 37). Have been trying for number two for the last year, two losses so far, now on cycle three since last loss.

I think your chances of loss increase as you age, so honestly I'd start trying sooner rather than later.