Age, Fertility, and Pregnancy: What’s Possible and What’s Safe

Written By Lora Shahine, MD

Can you really get pregnant after menopause? Why do celebrities seem to defy biology when it comes to age and fertility? And just because pregnancy is possible at later ages, is it actually safe? 

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explores the questions so many people are quietly asking as they navigate fertility, aging, and family-building decisions.

Dr. Shahine breaks down what the science actually says about age and fertility, including why it becomes harder to conceive with age, how eggs and sperm age differently, and what role options like IVF, egg freezing, and donor eggs play. 

She also reviews headline-making cases of pregnancy at advanced reproductive age and explains why these headlines, while eye-catching, don’t always tell the full medical story. She explains how clinicians think about risk, safety, and counseling for pregnancy later in life.

This episode offers evidence-based clarity, compassionate context, and practical guidance to help you make informed decisions. At any age.

In this episode you’ll hear:

  • [1:22] What record-breaking pregnancies really tell us

  • [3:00] Understanding age & fertility

  • [7:19] Health risks of pregnancy at 40s, 50s, and beyond

  • [9:28] Men’s reproductive age & health of pregnancy 

  • [10:21] Ethical considerations for older parents

  • [11:27] Updated ASRM recommendations

  • [13:35] Final thoughts

Dr. Shahine’s Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

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Lora Shahine, MD

Dr. Lora Shahine, reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, completed her residency in OBGYN at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Stanford University. She is dedicated to educating and advocating for increased awareness of infertility, miscarriage, and the impact on environmental toxins on health through an active social media presence, teaching, clinical research, and authoring multiple blogs and books including best selling, ‘Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.’

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