Chances of getting pregnant at 50

[hitandmist]

I didn’t really know where to put this thread so I may post in a couple of topics
I am 50 and perimenopausal. I still have periods although they’ve become very irregular since starting HRT 6 months ago.
I have been seeing someone casually for a couple of months. We don’t use protection. We probably have sex 4 times a month. We did discuss protection at the start and I decided I was happy to go without.
He’s now saying he’s worried about me getting pregnant. I really think this is unlikely although not impossible. I really don’t want to start using condoms. I don’t want to use other forms of birth control as they completely mess me up.
What would you do in this situation?

Unless you are this woman who allegedly had 2 babies in her 50s 'naturally' then you don't know for sure that she didn't use IVF.

Not impossible, but EXTREMELY unlikey....

The chance of a woman getting pregnant naturally and delivering a healthy baby at 50 is extremely low, actually well under 1%. Whilst not impossible, natural conception at this age is very rare because both egg quantity and quality decline significantly. Pregnancies at this age are considered very high-risk due to increased risks of miscarriage, chromosome abnormalities, and pregnancy complications.

Key Factors for Pregnancy at 50:

Natural Conception Rarity: By age 50, the likelihood of conceiving naturally is much less than 1%.

Declining Egg Quality: The few remaining eggs are more likely to have genetic abnormalities, increasing the risk of miscarriage, or genetic conditions and severe health problems in the fetus/baby/child.

Menopause Status: Once a woman reaches menopause—the average age is 51-52, - natural pregnancy is impossible.

Alternative Options: Most successful pregnancies for women over 50 utilize donor eggs, which can lead to higher success rates, though the risk of pregnancy complications remains higher compared to younger women.

@hitandmist You're getting a hard time on here, but it's because you're being so lackadaisical and half hearted about shagging a man - without a condom! - who you have known for TWO MONTHS! I have some food in my fridge that I've had in there longer than that!

Do the 'pull out' method if you must, but the vast majority of posters are telling you that YABU and you are wrong to do this, as there is a strong chance of catching an STI. Do you not care? You don't sound like you do!

So some of you can get even more outraged at me, I would abort without hesitation. And yes I’ve done it before so I can do it again. Off you go!

Was there any need to say this? This is all coming across as rage-bait now.

I'm not going to carry on with this, I know she did but it's pointless arguing with you.

AI tells me that 824 women in the UK gave birth over 50 between 2019-2021. Natural births are slightly less than 1% over 50. That;s BIRTHs, so who knows the rates when miscarriages and abortions are taken into account- which i will venture a guess is higher than women going uninterrupted full term.

Slight less than 1% is still slightly less than 1 in a 100, obviously. Still a far higher chance than I'd be willing to risk personally. Like I said, i know one who conceived naturally over 50. As others have said- your body often has a last hurrah of fertility just before it shuts up shop.

Well don't argue with me then.

You couldn't know though. It's likely she told you she didn't use IVF, because it's no-one's business. A woman getting pregnant, and having 2 babies in her 50s (naturally!) is VERY highly unlikely to happen though.

I'll leave you to it, as I have no desire to go back and forth all day. If you believe her that's up to you. I wouldn't believe her though.

My nan gave birth at 48. My auntie was younger than my eldest sibling.

But she says bery matter of fact that she has done it once and can do it again. Termination is like a walk in the park apparently..she seems to see it as a form of contraception just because she doesnt want to use a condom

@GetOffTheCounter

AI tells me that 824 women in the UK gave birth over 50 between 2019-2021.

They would pretty much all be IVF.

I think if neither of you have STIs, and you're prepared to have an abortion should you get pregnant, then the pull out method is fine! But I do understand your boyfriend/sexual partner being concerned and wanting to do something to be sure.

I too hate condoms (they feel awful!) and my DH and I have used the pull out method successfully for well over a decade after deciding we were done with having children - and that was during my most fertile years. I imagine that at 50, the pull out method would be more than enough!

It's unlikely but not impossible, so if you won't use condoms, any hormonal contraception or abstinence and your oartner won't have a vasectomy, then you have to be comfortable with the idea of an early abortion as its not impossible and more likely because you aren't using any form of contraceptive and nor is your partner.

An ultrasound could tell you how many eggs/follicles you have left, if any

Well, it’s unlikely. But I suppose quite a few unlikely things do happen. FWIW, my DF was thought to be “the Change”, but he turned out to be DC number 8. His DM was 52 and thoroughly pissed off - there was a war on!

Yes. But not all. As your own stats say.

Even a slightly less than 1% chance adds up when you talk about the vast numbers of women 50 plus who have sex. Approximately 1% of people in the UK have autism, yet we don't doubt those stats do we? Why doubt approx of 1% of women over the age of 50 giving birth naturally (when as I said, the numbers of women conceiving then miscarrying or aborting are probably higher?). As i also said, my own GP when I was 52 told me to get the Morning after pill when DH and I were careless (and drunk). She told me not to risk it.

vast majority will be IVF of course. But there is still a chance. And a chance is a chance is a chance. And I wouldn't risk it myself.

Most members I’ve seen on here are very supportive of women who choose to have terminations and are pro choice.

I think the outrage is because of your complete ignorant and uneducated attitudes regarding contraception, which can result in putting yourself at serious health risks.

Bu yes, off we go ….

Well is him pulling out more inconvenient than you having an unwanted pregnancy? It's true it's extremely unlikely but it can happen.

It was bloody awful for me - the emotional side for sure but I don’t think that op will suffer from this, she doesn’t seem to care. Not sure why she came on here asking seeing as she has all the solutions and has been quite rude when people have offered her helpful advice.

Agreed. I know a few women who have terminated and its been awful for them and they stuff suffer years later
This woman seems to already have all the answers for her leg so not sure why shes asking for advice on the matter

I think posters are just baffled as to why a grown woman and man who presumably don't want to risk a pregnancy refuse to use contraception. I thought it was widely known that pregnancy can occur even after the last menstrual period, the chances may be remote, but it can, and does happen.
You asked a question, people answered.

What would you do in this situation?

You obviously know that the chances of getting pregnant are extremely low but if you don't want to risk that low chance you will have to use condoms, although you'd rather not

In 1968 when my mother had an unplanned baby at 42, reasonably rare at the time, the woman in the next bed was 50 - so it does happen

The pull out method is not contraception. It’s hope for the best. My colleague had 2 babies that way.
If you’re still having periods , you can still pregnant.
Unlikely but possible.
My GP told me 55 was safe to stop using contraceptives.
I am pro choice but I don’t think abortion should be used a contraception.

You're 50, how old is he? has he got children, and if not why not? and if so why hasn't he had a vasectomy.

TBH, would be sick of this contraception shit at 50. I would turn it around.

Sorry, I have not RTFT so apologies if loads of other people said the same.

I'm nearly your age. Get a Mirena IUS. While the implantation process is horrendous. Sorry no getting around it, once in, within a month or two lots of people get either way lighter periods or none at all. No risk of pregnancy and if you're on HRT you can stop taking progesterone as well as it's a very low dose where it's needed to reduce the risk of uterine cancer.

I've not read the other comments. Obviously there are risks in unprotected sex but you're old enough to know all that and that ship has sailed. Probably worth you both just getting a quick clinic check up when you get the chance.

You are chancing it.
What would you do if you got pregnant?

Actually, the failure rate for the pull out method is 4%, compared to condoms at 3%. So literally 1% difference.

"The perfect-use failure rate for withdrawal is 4% compared to 3% for condoms; similarly, within the first year of use, 18% of couples relying on withdrawal will experience a pregnancy, comparable to the 17% of couples using male condoms."