"The scientific literature says women do quite well in pregnancy at this age," Grifo said. "But it is a little riskier. There's a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and needing a C-section, all of which are manageable."

While pregnancy after 45 is possible, it is considered a high-risk pregnancy. This is because fertility decreases with increasing age, and concerns such as miscarriages, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth become common. There is also an increased risk of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

Yes, fertility decreases with age, but getting pregnant at an older age is still possible. Dr. Franasiak’s study shows that fertility is influenced by age. After age 37, a woman’s chances of ovulating a normal egg decrease to less than 60% each month.

By age 45, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely for most women. After age 45, you will probably need to use assisted reproductive technology, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), to get pregnant.

If you get pregnant after 35 years old, experts call this an “advanced maternal age” pregnancy. But it’s still possible to get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby in your 40s. Childbirth at older ages has become more common too. Since the 1990s, birth rates in people aged 40-44 have gone up.