What are your odds of getting pregnant? A fertility by age chart

More of us are waiting a little longer to have a baby nowadays. In fact, 20% of women in the United States now have their first child after the age of 35. Sometimes, it’s by choice; other times, not. Some people want to advance their careers or check off bucket list experiences; others haven’t met the right partner yet or feel limited by finances in an increasingly expensive world. 

Whatever the reason for waiting, it’s always a fine balance between making sure the time is right for you and your body. “Age is the number one predictor of success [getting pregnant],” says Dr. Allison K. Rodgers, reproductive endocrinologist, fertility specialist, obstetrician, and gynecologist, Illinois, US. But other factors influence your chance of conceiving, too. It’s natural to wonder how quickly it might happen for you, so our odds of getting pregnant by age chart might help to give you a bit of guidance. But remember, the numbers shown in the chart don’t give a guaranteed likelihood because everyone is different, so if you have any questions or worries about trying to have a baby, the best thing to do is chat with your doctor.

Key takeaways

• You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have. Your supply gradually drops with each month, and your eggs age along with the rest of your body. 
• The combination of lower quality and quantity of eggs means it can be harder to get pregnant in your late 30s and beyond.
• Biologically, the best time to get pregnant is in your 20s, when you have plenty of good-quality eggs. But that’s not always the right time personally.
• Fertility starts to drop gradually around age 32 and then more quickly from age 37. Most women can still get pregnant in their late 30s and later, although it may take a little longer.
• See your doctor if you’re over 35 and haven’t conceived after six months of regular, unprotected sex — or sooner if you’re over 40.
• The Flo app allows you to track your cycles and symptoms, helping you to learn your body’s fertility signals.

When is the best age to get pregnant?

In general terms, the best age to get pregnant is different for everyone, as your circumstances are unique to you. But as far as your body is concerned, the prime years for pregnancy is during your 20s.

We’ll explain the science. You’re born with a fixed number of follicles, which are little fluid-filled sacs that contain eggs in your ovaries. You start with 1 to 2 million of them, and the number steadily drops as time goes on. 

By the time you reach puberty, the number of eggs will already have fallen to somewhere around 300,000. Each month, one follicle releases a mature egg — that’s what’s known as ovulation — and if the egg is fertilized, you can go on to become pregnant. Not all of your follicles are used up through ovulation, though — you lose them gradually throughout your life as they’re absorbed back into your body. Your egg count, also known as your ovarian reserve, continues to drop until menopause, which is your last ever period.

So, the older you are, the fewer eggs you have left. But, when it comes to fertility and age, it’s not all about the overall number of eggs, says Dr. Rodgers: “What’s really important is the percentage of those eggs that have the potential to make a healthy baby. And that percentage decreases as you get older,” she explains.

“A low-quality egg is less likely to fertilize in the first place, and if it does, the risk of miscarriage is higher, as is the risk of genetic abnormalities like trisomy 21 (Down syndrome),” says Dr. Rodgers. “With my fertility doctor hat on, I have to say that the younger you are, the higher your chance of success.” 

But life doesn’t always get the biology memo, and there are lots of reasons you may find yourself trying for a baby later. “I see many women who hadn’t met their partner when they were younger,” says Dr. Rodgers. “Others were the primary caregivers for a sick parent or were dealing with their own health issues. Plenty of women think they don’t want children and then change their minds later. For others, it’s about having a stable home and financial situation. I also see many women who had children when they were younger and now want to try again, perhaps because they’re in a new relationship.”

So try not to be discouraged if you’re a little way past the age science says is the peak for pregnancy. As we’ll see, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re too old to have a baby. Remember that plenty of women have healthy babies after 35, but it’s a good idea to empower yourself with the facts. 

What are the odds of getting pregnant? A fertility by age chart

Lots of researchers have looked into the chance of getting pregnant at different ages, and we’ve got the stats from one study below. You’ll notice we’ve included the chances of conception at different ages for men, too. That’s because lots of factors can influence your odds, including your partner’s fertility (in over a third of couples struggling to conceive, the problem is with the man’s sperm). 

Before we get into the figures from the research, it’s important to know that this chart isn’t a precise fertility calculator by age. It would be far too difficult to get a personalized, accurate result because many circumstances are at play when it comes to getting pregnant. For example, as well as your age and your partner’s level of fertility, there are also lifestyle factors that can impact your chance of getting pregnant. Smoking, for example, can make it harder to get pregnant. Certain health conditions can also make it trickier, like polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition also known as PCOS, which can make ovulation less regular. And genetics can matter too, such as having a family history of early menopause.

The chart below shows the odds of getting pregnant at different ages, but remember it’s based on the results seen in just one study. Other research, like this 2013 paper, shows slightly different findings. And of course, everyone’s different. “You can’t assume you’ll be able to have a baby at the same age as your friends or even your mother,” says Dr. Rodgers. Always chat with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your personal situation.  

Your chance of getting pregnant within six months and 12 months of trying:

How does age affect the odds of getting pregnant?

As you can see in the chart above, age is a big factor when it comes to getting pregnant. And, while you can’t change your age, “it’s important to understand how it may impact your chances, so you can make informed decisions,” says Dr. Rodgers. 

Odds of getting pregnant in your 20s

Statistically, your 20s is the time you have the best chance of getting pregnant — on average, 25% per menstrual cycle. “You have a high percentage of good-quality eggs, which means you also have a lower risk of miscarriage,” explains Dr. Rodgers.  

Your age doesn’t necessarily rule out fertility complications, though. Existing conditions like PCOS, for example, could make it harder to get pregnant. So, you should always see your doctor if you’ve been having unprotected sex for a year without getting pregnant.

If you don’t feel ready to start trying for a baby in your 20s, your doctor can discuss the best birth control for you to use in the meantime. And you can chat with them if you have any worries or questions about your fertility. “You could also think about freezing your eggs so you have high-quality eggs to use later,” says Dr. Rodgers. “The best age for egg freezing is your 20s or early 30s.”

Odds of getting pregnant in your 30s

When it comes to getting pregnant in your 30s, your odds are still good at the start of the decade, with a 20% chance of getting pregnant per menstrual cycle. But your fertility does start to reduce, gradually at first from around the age of 32, and picking up speed at about 37. 

From your mid-30s, fewer of the eggs you release are likely to be viable, meaning they could become a healthy baby. But that doesn’t always rule out pregnancy; it just means that it may take slightly longer. “There are plenty of women aged 35 and older who have babies, and most never need to see a fertility doctor for help,” says Dr. Rodgers. But, if you’re 35 or older and you’ve been trying to conceive for six months without it happening, schedule that appointment. Investigations (for both of you) can take a while, and it’s wise to make the most of your time.  

Odds of getting pregnant in your 40s

Your chance of conceiving is, on average, less than 5% per menstrual cycle by the age of 40. By 45, a successful pregnancy via conception sex or by fertility treatment using your own eggs (unless they were frozen previously) is very unlikely. “You may be fit and healthy, but egg quality is always going to be an issue,” says Dr. Rodgers. “Even if you have a high ovarian reserve, that doesn’t mean all the eggs are healthy.”

This may feel like difficult news to hear if you want to have children in your 40s, but remember not to lose hope. While the figures do show it’s less likely to happen easily, more than 100,000 women a year in the United States give birth over the age of 40, and not all of these are as a result of fertility treatment.

The best thing you can do if you’re trying to conceive in your 40s is see your doctor sooner rather than later. “It’s not just about getting pregnant,” says Dr. Rodgers. “By 40, you have [a higher] chance of having a miscarriage. In fertility medicine, we may be able to reduce that risk, which is important, not only because a miscarriage is very distressing in itself, but it can also set you back about four months by the time your body’s reset itself,” she advises.

How to improve your chances of getting pregnant

Whatever your age, there are steps you can take to make sure you’re as healthy as possible before you get pregnant. That can include taking pre-conception vitamins, reducing caffeine, limiting alcohol, exercising, and making sure you’re a healthy weight (which looks different on everyone, so chat with your doctor about that).

So, what is one of the best things you can do to maximize your chances naturally? “Become an expert on your own body,” says Dr. Rodgers. “Getting to know your cycles and understanding signs of ovulation can give you important information about the best time to conceive.” There are a few ways to track ovulation. And a period-tracking app like Flo can help you understand your own cycles and signs of fertility.

“Tracking can also help you to spot potential problems,” says Dr. Rodgers. “If you’re not getting your period regularly, that may be a sign you’re not always ovulating,” she adds. See your doctor, who can run tests and offer treatment if necessary.

If your journey to becoming a parent becomes more complicated than you’d hoped, be kind to yourself, and remember there may be options for fertility treatment if it comes to it. Your doctor will be there to walk you through them. “You may end up doing things you hadn’t planned on, but there’s [usually] a path to parenthood,” says Dr. Rodgers.