40-Year-Old Eggs May Not Be Grade A

The majority of women still ovulate into their forties, but they’re less likely to produce high-quality eggs.

A major reason is “There can be metabolic changes in the eggs,” that reduce their quality, says Lynn Westphal, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. What’s more, “it’s well documented that at age 40, half of the eggs a woman produces are chromosomally abnormal,” she says. As a result, while women may still conceive in their forties, they’re more likely to suffer early miscarriages.

For more fertility tips, check out Conceive's book, Fertility Facts: Hundreds of Tips for Getting Pregnant.

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