Having a Baby at 40

• Is 40 too old to have a baby?
• How fertility changes in your 40s
• What are your chances of getting pregnant at 40?
• Pregnancy risks after 40
• What extra care might you receive?
• Will I regret having a baby at 40?

40 is not necessarily “too old” to have a baby, but age does affect fertility. For many people, the wording “too old” is not a useful way of framing age-related fertility questions.

Every woman is different, and personal factors, such as physical health, your ovarian reserve, medical history and available support, are often more important for determining how and whether you can have a baby at 40.

Overall, it is important to know that many 40-year-old women have babies but that how conceiving happens and how long it takes vary considerably.

Female fertility begins to change relatively quickly once a woman reaches 35. At 40, the following fertility factors are important:

Ovarian reserve (number of eggs remaining)

At 40, women usually have somewhere between 10,000 to 25,000 eggs remaining. This amounts to around 3% of the eggs present at the end of puberty.

Egg quality

As you age, egg quality decreases due to genetic abnormalities and mutations. At 40, you have fewer eggs in your ovarian reserve and fewer of those eggs are healthy. 

Pregnancy complications

Women who are pregnant in their 40s are classified as being of “advanced maternal age”, as there is a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Potential age-related complications for women in their 40s include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preterm delivery.

At 40, your chances of conceiving via sexual intercourse are around 5% each menstrual cycle. By the age of 45, this drops to 1%. 

This means that 40-year-old women have a 25% chance of conceiving via sexual intercourse if they try every month for six months, and 45-year-old women have a 6% chance.

It is important to recognise that these statistics are based on averages and do not account for individual circumstances.

Studies show that pregnancy risks are higher for women in their 40s than those in their 20s and 30s. However, this does not mean that the majority of pregnancies involving women in their 40s encounter problems.

In many cases, the increase in risk is relatively small and can be managed via medical monitoring and interventions. Women in their 40s tend to be at higher risk of:

• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• High blood pressure
• Pre-eclampsia
• Gestational diabetes
• Placental complications
• Chromosomal abnormalities

Women who are at higher risk of age-related pregnancy complications are carefully monitored and offered extra medical tests and interventions to help manage those risks and increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. These extra measures can include:

• Early, regular screening
• Blood pressure checks
• Diabetes testing
• Detailed fetal testing
• Movement monitoring
• Discussions around induction and caesarean delivery

An increasing number of women are choosing to have babies on their own terms, without a partner. The availability of comprehensively screened donor sperm, excellent clinical support and guidance on family planning means solo motherhood by choice is a realistic, empowering and desirable option for many women. 

Solo mums by choice (SMBCs) often face unique practical, emotional and medical challenges, and require tailored information and support. From choosing the right sperm donor for you to preparing financially for the future, we answer a wide range of questions and provide SMBC-specific guidance in our comprehensive guide to solo motherhood. 

Same-sex female couples and heterosexual couples facing male fertility challenges also regularly use donor sperm to have children in their 40s. For these couples, the path to parenthood begins by finding a trusted sperm bank and a fertility clinic. This gives you access to reliable, professional support to make informed decisions about your treatment and donor.

At European Sperm Bank, we offer free consultations to all aspiring parents, providing information and support tailored to your unique circumstances. We can also assist and guide you through key parts of the process, such as picking a sperm donor.

No one can say whether or not you will regret the decision to have a baby at 40. Every person is unique, follows their own path to parenthood, and responds differently. For individuals and couples considering parenthood in their 40s, the most important thing is doing your research, talking to those with experience, and weighing up the benefits and challenges. Parenthood is a life-changing experience at any age, and no one knows how they will feel until after the fact. The best you can do is ensure you know enough to make an informed decision about your future.

Can you have a baby at 40?

Yes, it is possible to have a baby at 40. However, fertility declines with age and conceiving may take longer, require fertility treatment, or not be possible at all. Pregnancy risks also increase, but these are managed by extra medical monitoring and intervention. 

Is pregnancy at 40 high risk?

Pregnancy at 40 is a higher risk than pregnancy in your 20s or 30s, but not necessarily high risk. Many women in their 40s experience no complications during pregnancy and have healthy children. 

What are the main risks?

In your 40s, there is an increased risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, chromosomal abnormalities, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and placental complications. However, these risks can be mitigated and managed by extra medical monitoring and intervention.

Can I get pregnant naturally at 40?

Yes, you can get pregnant via unprotected sexual intercourse at 40, but the chances are lower, and time-to-pregnancy may be longer. If you try for six months without conceiving, fertility treatments like IUI and IVF are available to help you have a child. 

Is IVF the better option after 40?

Your clinic might recommend IVF depending on the results of fertility testing, your medical history and clinic guidance, but it is not automatically the right option for everyone. Some aspiring parents in their 40s may be able to conceive via sexual intercourse, and others may be better suited to less invasive IUI treatment. The best approach is to discuss your personal circumstances with a fertility specialist. 

Can I use donor sperm at 40?

Yes, you can use donor sperm to conceive at 40. Your chosen fertility clinic will be able to advise you on whether it is the best option for you based on their clinical assessment, local rules and legal regulations, and your chosen treatment pathway.

Is it safe to be pregnant over 40?

Many women in their 40s experience no complications during their pregnancy, but there are increased risks. Discussing your circumstances with a fertility specialist before conceiving can help mitigate these risks, and extra medical monitoring during pregnancy is often recommended. 

IUI, IVF and ICSI treatments are regularly used when age-related fertility challenges mean help is needed to conceive. Your clinic will advise you on the most suitable fertility treatment based on your personal circumstances and medical history. 

IVF

IVF is the most common treatment for women in their 40s. It involves retrieving an egg from the aspiring mother or a donor, and fertilising it with sperm in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the uterus to develop. For women over 40, IVF may be combined with other technologies and techniques to mitigate some of the risks associated with pregnancies among this age group. For instance, fertility specialists may also recommend Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) to check for chromosomal abnormalities.

ICSI

ICSI is a type of IVF treatment in which a single, healthy sperm is injected directly into an egg in the laboratory. This differs from standard IVF, where the egg is mixed with large numbers of sperm cells that still have to reach, penetrate and fertilise the egg without help. ICSI tends to be used when there are male-factor fertility concerns. ICSI and conventional IVF success rates are comparable when there are no male-factor concerns, so it is not usually recommended outside of these circumstances.  

IUI

Intrauterine insemination treatment is a type of artificial insemination where healthy, high-quality sperm cells are placed directly into the uterus using a catheter. It is typically used when there are sperm quality issues, mild ovulation challenges or unexplained infertility. Both partner and donor sperm can be used in IUI. However, IUI is rarely the first choice of fertility treatment for women in their 40s, as age-related fertility decline means the success rate is just 5% per cycle.