Getting Pregnant After 40: Chances, How to Get Pregnant Fast, and What Works

By CNY Fertility Updated on December 23, 2025

Getting pregnant after 40 can feel emotionally and medically complicated. You’ve probably heard mixed messages, seen scary statistics online, and wondered whether you should keep trying naturally, move to IVF, or consider donor eggs.

Here’s the truth: yes, you can get pregnant after 40, but the odds are lower than they were in your 30s. And time matters more now than at any other point in your fertility journey.

This guide breaks down the chances of getting pregnant after 40, why fertility declines, how to get pregnant fast after 40, and which fertility treatments are most often recommended.

Quick Answer: Can You Get Pregnant After 40?

Yes. Many people do. But on average, the chance of getting pregnant in any given monthly cycle at age 40 is around 5% (or less).

Because odds drop quickly in the early 40s, most guidelines recommend getting evaluated sooner rather than later. If you are over 40, many experts recommend more immediate evaluation and treatment rather than waiting.

Fast Facts

Natural conception at age 40 averages about 5% per cycle and declines further each year into the 40s.
The biggest reason fertility drops after 40 is egg and embryo chromosome abnormalities, which reduce fertilization and implantation rates, and increase miscarriage risk.
If you are trying to get pregnant after 40, it often makes sense to start fertility testing early, even if you are also trying naturally.
Lifestyle and supplements may support overall reproductive health, but they cannot fully reverse age-related egg genetics, so having a plan matters.

Natural Conception After 40: What to Track

If you are trying to get pregnant after 40 naturally, the goal is to reduce guesswork and make sure you are consistently hitting your fertile window.

Most couples benefit from confirming three basics early:

Ovulation is happening
Intercourse timing is aligned with ovulation
There are no major hidden barriers like tubal blockage or sperm issues

Start by using ovulation predictor kits (LH strips) for 2–3 cycles to learn your pattern. The days just before ovulation tend to be the most fertile, so intercourse every 1–2 days in that window is often recommended.

If your cycles are irregular, if you never see a clear LH surge, or if you have a history of endometriosis, pelvic infection, fibroids, or prior pelvic surgery, it is especially important to get evaluated early rather than assuming timing is the problem.

Chances of Getting Pregnant After 40

Monthly chances (natural conception)

A commonly cited estimate is that by age 40, the chance of pregnancy per monthly cycle is around 5% or less.

These are population averages. Your personal odds can be higher or lower depending on ovulation regularity, ovarian reserve, tubal health, sperm quality, and the underlying cause of infertility.

Why it is still possible, and why it can still be hard

Even if the average per-cycle chance is low, repeated cycles can still result in pregnancy, especially in the early 40s. But because fertility decline can be steep year to year, the practical goal is usually to reduce wasted time and maximize your best months.

Why Getting Pregnant in Your 40s Is More Difficult

Fertility decline after 40 is mainly driven by egg quality, specifically chromosomal abnormalities that become more common with age.

Egg quantity: ovarian reserve declines with age

Ovarian reserve refers to the number of remaining follicles capable of developing into mature eggs. This naturally declines over time, with big individual variation.

AMH and ultrasound antral follicle count are commonly used to estimate reserve and guide treatment decisions.

Low ovarian reserve does not automatically mean you cannot get pregnant, but it can mean fewer opportunities, fewer eggs per cycle with stimulation, and less time to wait.

Egg quality: age and embryo chromosome errors

Egg quality is often used as a shorthand for whether an egg can produce a chromosomally normal embryo capable of implanting and progressing to live birth.

An extensive study evaluating embryo chromosome results found that in the ages 26–37 group the “no euploid embryo” rate was low, but rose to 33% at age 42 and 53% at age 44.

This is why many people over 40 experience more cycles with no viable embryos, more failed implantations, and more miscarriages, even after a positive pregnancy test.

Miscarriage risk rises sharply after 40

Chromosomal abnormalities are a major driver of miscarriage risk with age. A large Danish registry study found fetal loss increased substantially with maternal age, with especially high losses reported in the mid-40s.

Does the Uterus Age Too?

Studies suggest that, even with euploid embryos (an embryo tested and found to have the correct number of chromosomes), older patients may still have slightly lower live-birth rates or slightly higher complication risks compared with younger patients. The difference is usually smaller than the genetics effect, but it can still show up.

If you are over 40, it is still important to support uterine health, including evaluating for fibroids, polyps, or lining concerns. That said, egg and embryo genetics are usually the dominant limitation.

How to Get Pregnant After 40 Fast

If your goal is how to get pregnant fast after 40, the strategy is usually to get key data quickly, optimize timing immediately, and escalate treatment earlier if needed.

Step 1: Do not wait long for an evaluation

Many guidelines recommend fertility testing after 6 months if you are 35 or older, but more immediate evaluation and treatment if you are over 40.

A standard workup often includes ovulation confirmation, AMH, antral follicle count ultrasound, thyroid testing, tubal evaluation, and semen analysis.

Step 2: Time intercourse correctly

The fertile window is about 6 days, and pregnancy probability is highest in the days just before ovulation.

ASRM guidance commonly recommends intercourse every 1–2 days during the fertile window for couples trying without known infertility factors.

30-Day Plan to Get Pregnant After 40

If you want to get pregnant after 40 fast, the most effective approach is to keep trying while you gather the medical information that helps you figure out what the next steps will be. Here is a practical 30-day plan.

Start timing intercourse immediately
Use ovulation predictor kits (LH strips) and have sex every 1–2 days starting about 4–5 days before expected ovulation through 1 day after your LH surge.
Book a fertility evaluation now
At 40+, seek earlier evaluation rather than waiting. Schedule an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist so you can move quickly if results indicate low ovarian reserve, tubal issues, or sperm factors.
Order core labs early in your cycle
Ask for commonly used baseline labs such as AMH, cycle day 2–4 FSH, estradiol, TSH, and prolactin. Many clinicians also assess metabolic markers such as A1C.
Get an antral follicle count ultrasound
This ultrasound, usually done early in the cycle, counts resting follicles and helps estimate the likely response to ovarian stimulation.
Do the semen analysis right away
Male factor infertility is common and treatable, and knowing sperm parameters early prevents wasted months.
Schedule tubal testing (HSG) in the right window
An HSG is often scheduled after bleeding ends but before ovulation, commonly around cycle days 7–10. If tubes are blocked or there are uterine cavity concerns, your provider will update your plan and next steps.
Review results and choose the fastest path
If ovulation is confirmed, tubes are open, and semen is normal, you may continue timed trying briefly. If results show diminished ovarian reserve, significant male factor, tubal disease, or you are 42+, many clinics recommend moving sooner to IVF rather than spending months on lower-yield steps.
Decide your escalation point now
If you are 40–41 and testing is favorable, you may give timed intercourse a short runway, often 1–3 cycles. If you are 42+ or testing is unfavorable, consider moving to IVF quickly. If repeated IVF cycles with your own eggs are not producing transferable embryos, discuss donor eggs sooner rather than later.

Natural vs IUI vs IVF vs Donor Eggs After 40

Option	Who it fits best after 40	Speed	Typical outcome trend after 40	Key tradeoffs
Natural (timed intercourse)	Regular cycles, no known tubal issues, normal semen analysis, earlier 40s, willing to try while completing testing	Slow to moderate	Lower monthly odds and declines quickly with age	Lowest cost and least invasive, but highest risk of lost time if hidden factors exist
IUI	Selected cases, such as mild male factor, cervical factor, donor sperm, usually earlier 40s	Moderate	Generally low success after 40 compared with IVF	Less invasive and lower cost than IVF, but may delay more effective treatment when time is critical
IVF (own eggs)	Those who want the highest per-cycle chance with their own eggs, especially with diminished reserve, endometriosis, tubal issues, or unexplained infertility	Faster	Success decreases substantially with age, often requiring multiple cycles	Most effective treatment with own eggs, but higher cost, more medical intensity, and outcomes depend heavily on egg genetics
Donor egg IVF	Very low egg quality or quantity, repeated failed IVF with own eggs, mid-40s, or those prioritizing the highest success odds	Often fastest once arranged	Highest success rates because embryo genetics reflect donor age	Higher cost and emotional complexity, plus decisions around donor selection and disclosure

Nutrition: Eat a High-Fat, Low-Carb Diet

CNY fertility recommends a low-carb, high-fat, or ketogenic fertility diet, especially if you have insulin resistance or PCOS.

Fats like omega-3s have evidence for reducing inflammatory markers in some contexts.
Steroid reproductive hormones are synthesized from cholesterol precursors, and consuming cholestrol rich whole foods can support healthy reproductive hormone signaling.

If you are using a low-carb or keto-style plan, it is worth discussing it with a clinician, especially if you have thyroid disease, a history of eating disorders, or you are underweight.

Supplements: CoQ10

CoQ10 supports cellular energy production, and egg cells have high energy demands. CoQ10 levels may decline with age, and supplementation has been studied in fertility settings.

A randomized trial in IVF patients found CoQ10 pretreatment improved ovarian response and embryo parameters.

CoQ10 comes in two forms, ubiquinone and ubiquinol. Some research suggests ubiquinol may raise blood levels more effectively in older adults.

Fertility Treatments After 40

If you are over 40, it is often time to consult a reproductive endocrinologist for targeted testing and a treatment plan. Since time is a major factor, many clinics move quickly to treatments with higher success rates.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

IUI can be used with or without fertility medications. Sperm is collected, processed, and placed into the uterus around ovulation.

Many clinicians recommend limiting IUI attempts after 40 because success rates are relatively low, and time can be lost before moving to IVF.

One randomized trial in older couples found that immediate IVF resulted in superior pregnancy rates with fewer treatment cycles compared to those who did multiple IUI cycles first.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

IVF is often the fastest path to pregnancy after 40 because it can produce multiple eggs in one cycle and allows testing of embryos.

National outcomes vary by clinic and diagnosis, but age remains a major predictor of success. SART provides national outcome tables across years and patient groups that you can explore to learn about likely success for your demographic.

You can also explore the CDCs reporting tools and national summaries on IVF effectiveness over 40.

PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy)

PGT-A can help identify embryos more likely to be chromosomally normal, but it also adds cost and is not universally recommended for every patient.

Donor egg IVF

Donor egg IVF uses eggs from a younger donor, which can significantly improve success rates because embryo genetics are from a younger donor. Donor eggs are often discussed after repeated failed IVF with one’s own eggs or when the patient is in the mid-40s when the likelihood of euploid embryos becomes very low.

Risks of Pregnancy in Your 40s: Is It Safe?

Many people have healthy pregnancies after 40, but risks are higher on average, including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, cesarean delivery, and preterm birth.

Miscarriage risk

Miscarriage risk rises with maternal age largely due to chromosomal abnormalities. A large Danish study reported a steep increase in fetal loss in the 40s.

Getting Pregnant After 40: The Bottom Line

If you are trying to conceive and your main questions are around getting pregnant after 40, the most helpful mindset is to have hope, but be strategic.

Your best next steps often look like this:

Keep trying naturally with well-timed intercourse
Start fertility testing early so you don’t waste precious months guessing
Use your results to decide whether to continue trying, move to IVF, consider PGT-A, or discuss donor eggs
Choose interventions with the highest success rate (IVF) when speed matters, especially in the early-to-mid 40s

FAQ: Getting Pregnant After 40

Can you get pregnant after 40 naturally?

Yes, but average monthly chances are low, around 5% or less at age 40, and declining with age.

What are the chances of getting pregnant after 40?

It varies widely by individual factors, but population data shows a steep decline in the 40s, largely due to rising embryo aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities) rates.

How to get pregnant after 40 fast?

Time intercourse correctly and start fertility testing early so you can escalate treatment quickly if needed.

How to get pregnant after 40 fast naturally?

Track ovulation, focus on timing, address basic health factors such as thyroid and metabolic health, and get evaluated early if you have irregular cycles or risk factors like endometriosis.