New figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that more women than ever are delaying motherhood.
The numbers of women over 40 having a baby has trebled in the past two decades – from just under 10,000 in 1991 to over 30,000 last year.
One of the most obvious reasons for this trend is of course the differing lifestyles of today, with many women establishing a career and financial security before having a family, or indeed simply meeting the right partner to have a family with later in life.
Having a baby in your 40s isn’t impossible, but it is a fact that conceiving at this age is generally difficult, simply because your fertility naturally declines as you age. And it’s why on the back of these figures so many health professionals were warning that waiting until you’re older isn’t always the best option.
Whilst it’s true that medical advances in IVF and other fertility treatments has given many older women a family, success rates from IVF in women in their forties is typically very small. This is because the quality of the eggs isn’t as good as it once was, there aren’t many eggs to choose from and as a result, sadly, IVF often fails to work.
Here at Manchester Fertility we’re always very honest with you about your chances of success if you are an older would-be mum. It could be that using a donor egg may be the best option for you – this is something we recommend in particular for women aged 44 and over.
We have produced a specific guide to treatments for older women herewhere you can find out more about your options.
You should also consider a Fertility MOT. This is an in-depth look at your fertility through a series of simple tests. The results will tell you your current fertility status and highlight any problems you may have but been unaware of, ensuring you seek help sooner rather than later.
Last updated: 20th January 2020
