Our Los Angeles fertility center doctors explain the realities of celebrity moms over 40

Hollywood often glamorizes real life, and pregnancy over 40 is no exception. Well-known celebrities like Rachel Weisz, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry and Janet Jackson make it look like a piece of cake to have babies well after age 40. At USC Fertility, our Los Angeles fertility center physicians want to shed light on the truth about celebrity moms over 40.

A brief review of fertility basics from our Los Angeles fertility center

While conceiving naturally in the late-30s or early-40s can happen, the odds for most women aren’t completely in their favor. Adult men routinely produce sperm throughout much of their lives. However, women are born with all the eggs they will ever produce. At puberty, a woman begins to release an egg each month during ovulation. Female fertility usually peaks in the mid-20s and steadily declines after this point.

Although these famous moms make pregnancy over 40 seem easy, consider the following statistics.

• Around 1 in 4 women will get pregnant in any single cycle during their late-20s and early-30s.
• By age 40, approximately 1 in 10 women will get pregnant during any given cycle.
• The number of eggs decreases as women get older and the remaining eggs are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities.

How celebrity moms over 40 achieve successful pregnancies

In many cases, including famous women who choose to get pregnant after age 40, Mother Nature often requires some additional help. Assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization and donor eggs are likely utilized to help make a healthy pregnancy possible. Our USC Fertility doctors work with female patients over 40 to perform routine fertility tests, determine ovarian reserve levels and explore available fertility treatment options

If you have questions about your age and your ability to conceive, the physicians at our Los Angeles fertility center can discuss your concerns. During your visit, our doctors will review your specific situation in more detail. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a consultation appointment.