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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Reliable Figures?

7 replies

seasavage · 11/01/2014 22:42

Can anyone point me at some reliable figures for conception at almost 40?

I think my chances are lesslikely than at 30 (2 children conceived with ease) but not impossible. My mother is adamant i shouldn't try as i am so past it as to be risking the health of any impossible baby (and selfish and heartless etc).

I'd like a third cold/ nonanecdotal opinion to help me and my husband think long and hard about it.

OP posts:
Hyland · 11/01/2014 23:25

My mum had her 8th child at the age of 41/42. Perfectly healthy and I don't believe she had any problems. I would worry about the higher risk category due to age. Having said that I'm 35 this year and still trying to conceive my 2nd child and hope to have a 3rd so perhaps I too will end up with a newborn at the age of 40.

Perhaps just speak to your doctor and ask advice on anything u can do to lower the risk of health problems for you or the baby.

Good luck

MissHobart · 12/01/2014 00:03

Can't point you to anywhere reliable but my friend is about to drop and she's 41, she had ivf but has had a perfect textbook pregnancy, she's only "high risk" cos of being over 40. They just like to be careful I think.

I'm 33 and still trying for #1, definitely want 2, and now I'm thinking maybe 3 (don't tell OH that though Wink ) so I'll probably be in the same boat in not that many years! If you and your OH want to go for it do! It's nothing to do with your mum, she's from a different generation and time so ignore her! Grin

Metalhead · 12/01/2014 10:26

www.countdowntopregnancy.com/tools/age_fertility_calculator.php

This might help to give you an idea - it shows the chance of conception at 40 is 5% per cycle, while the risks for miscarriage and Downs are much higher than at, say, 30. Still, some of my friends have had perfectly healthy babies at 40 so I guess it is a case of weighing up the risks.

Original poster
seasavage · 12/01/2014 11:10

Thank you. That is extremely low then.

OP posts:
Jaffakake · 12/01/2014 20:19

There's a book by Emily Oster that has a chapter in it about this. May be worth a read as she looks behind the statistics often quoted & where they came from, ho old they are etc. I can't remember if it'll shine any hope on this, but at least you'll know it's a sound analysis.

Vickitoriana · 12/01/2014 20:44

I concieved with ridiculous ease last year ( hit the jackpot with just one shag!) sadly i had an accident and lose it very soon after... Don't be too put off by stats. X

Vickitoriana · 12/01/2014 20:45

Oh, i was 40 at the time... Hope this helps.

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