At what age do you stop becoming pregnant?

Oct 18, 2025 4 min read •

Menopause Reproductive Health Fertility

By age 45, a woman's fertility is so low that conceiving naturally is unlikely, leading many to wonder exactly at what age do you stop becoming pregnant. This decline is not a sudden event but a gradual process that culminates in menopause, marking the end of natural childbearing years.

Quick Summary

The ability to become pregnant naturally ceases after a woman has entered menopause, which is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, typically occurring around age 51. Fertility, however, declines significantly well before this point, and pregnancy can still occur during the perimenopause years leading up to menopause.

Key Points

Menopause is the Endpoint: A woman stops being able to become pregnant naturally once she has officially reached menopause, which is 12 consecutive months without a period.
Fertility Declines Before Menopause: The ability to conceive naturally declines significantly from the late 30s onward, not stopping suddenly.
Perimenopause is the Transition: Pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, though ovulation is irregular.
Egg Quality is Key: A woman's eggs decrease in both quantity and quality with age, which is the main reason for lower fertility and higher miscarriage risk.
IVF Success Drops with Age: Using one's own eggs for IVF becomes much less successful with age, and many clinics recommend donor eggs for women over 43-45.
Older Pregnancies Have Higher Risks: Advanced maternal age (over 35) is associated with higher risks of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and chromosomal abnormalities.
Proactive Planning is Best: Consulting a healthcare provider or fertility specialist is recommended for women over 35 who are trying to conceive.

The biological clock: From peak fertility to menopause

Understanding the reproductive timeline is crucial for family planning. Women are born with a finite number of eggs, and this reserve diminishes in both quality and quantity over a lifetime. Peak fertility is generally in the late teens and 20s. Around age 30, the decline begins, and after age 35, the decrease accelerates.

By the early to mid-40s, the chances of natural conception drop dramatically. While not impossible, it becomes increasingly difficult. The journey to the end of fertility involves several distinct phases.

Perimenopause: The transitional stage

Perimenopause, also known as the menopausal transition, is the period leading up to menopause. It can start in a woman's 40s and lasts several years, though the duration varies widely.

Irregular Cycles: Periods may become irregular, shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter due to fluctuating hormone levels.
Ovulation Still Occurs: Even with irregular cycles, ovulation still happens, though less frequently. This means pregnancy is still possible.
Unplanned Pregnancies: Many unplanned pregnancies in women over 40 occur during perimenopause because they mistakenly believe their irregular cycles mean they are no longer fertile. Consistent contraception is vital during this stage if pregnancy is not desired.

Menopause: The official end of natural fertility

Menopause is the point when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 51, though it can happen earlier or later. Once this milestone is reached, the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs, and natural conception is no longer possible.

Factors affecting the timeline

While age is the primary factor, other elements can influence the onset of perimenopause and menopause:

Genetics: The age at which your mother or sisters went through menopause can be a strong predictor for your own experience.
Smoking: Women who smoke tend to experience menopause earlier than non-smokers.
Health Conditions: Certain medical conditions, treatments like chemotherapy, or surgeries involving the ovaries can affect fertility and the timing of menopause.

The role of egg quality and quantity

As a woman ages, the eggs she has left are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities. This decline in egg quality increases the risk of miscarriage and genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. Fertility treatments like IVF with a woman's own eggs also see a significant drop in success rates after age 40 due to this factor.

Options for pregnancy after fertility decline

For women who have gone through menopause or have poor egg quality, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) offer alternative pathways to parenthood. However, these often involve using younger, healthier eggs.

Egg Freezing: Women can freeze their eggs earlier in life when quality is higher to use later for IVF.
Donor Eggs: Many fertility clinics use donor eggs for postmenopausal IVF. This offers a significantly higher success rate than using older eggs, though the child will not be genetically related to the mother.
Hormone Therapy: After menopause, a woman's body needs hormone therapy to prepare the uterine lining for an embryo, whether it's from a donor or her own frozen eggs.

Risks associated with older pregnancies

Pregnancy at an advanced maternal age (over 35) or during perimenopause comes with increased health risks for both mother and baby.

Higher Rates of Miscarriage: Due to declining egg quality, the risk of miscarriage increases significantly with age.
Pregnancy Complications: Older mothers face higher risks of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure (preeclampsia), preterm birth, and placenta previa.
Higher Cesarean Section Rate: The rate of C-sections rises with maternal age.
Increased Risk of Birth Defects: The chance of chromosomal abnormalities in the baby is higher for older mothers.

Comparison of fertility by age group


Age Range	Natural Conception Chance Per Cycle	IVF Success with Own Eggs	Key Fertility Factor
Early-Mid 20s	25-30%	High	Peak egg quantity and quality
Late 30s	Starts to decline significantly, <20%	Declines noticeably	Decreasing egg quantity and quality
Age 40	~5%	~20% (2021 SART data)	Rapid decline in egg quality
Age 45+	Unlikely for most	Very low; donor eggs recommended	Very low egg quantity and quality
Postmenopause	0%	Only with frozen or donor eggs	End of ovulation

Making informed decisions

Whether to continue trying for a natural pregnancy or to explore ART options is a deeply personal choice. For women in their late 30s and early 40s who are actively trying to conceive, it's recommended to consult a fertility specialist after six months of trying. For those over 40, seeking evaluation immediately is advisable. Education and open discussion with a healthcare provider can help women and their partners make the best decisions for their family planning goals, recognizing the biological realities of age-related fertility decline.

For more detailed information on female reproductive health and aging, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provides comprehensive resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is highly unlikely to get pregnant naturally at age 50, as most women have entered or are transitioning through menopause. A successful pregnancy at this age almost always involves assisted reproductive technology (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) using donor eggs.

There is no single, universally mandated age limit for IVF, but many clinics set an upper age limit, often in the mid-40s, for using a woman's own eggs due to significantly lower success rates and higher risks. IVF with donor eggs can extend this possibility for older women.

Perimenopause is marked by irregular periods, hot flashes, and mood swings, but ovulation is still possible. The only way to know for sure if you can get pregnant is to use reliable contraception until you have gone 12 consecutive months without a period, confirming menopause.

Yes, pregnancy at an advanced maternal age (over 35) is associated with a greater risk of health complications, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and higher rates of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities in the baby.

Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility by using eggs from when they were younger and healthier. This can significantly improve the chances of a successful IVF pregnancy later in life, well after natural fertility has declined.

Fertility declines with age primarily because both the quantity and quality of a woman's eggs diminish over time. The remaining eggs in older women are more prone to chromosomal abnormalities, increasing the risk of miscarriage.

No, it is not possible to become pregnant naturally after menopause. Once menopause is confirmed by 12 months without a period, a woman has stopped ovulating and is no longer able to conceive naturally.

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.