Is there a definitive age beyond which conceiving a child becomes impossible (aside from menopause)? Since the introduction of contraception in the 1970s, the mantra has been "a child when I want." Yet gynecologists don't always agree. Some, like Élodie's, avoid alarming patients even at 38. Others raise the issue at every visit, sometimes with pointed questions—as Claire experienced with her gynecologist after becoming a mother at 40: "So, when are you giving me a baby?"
What does science say? "It's challenging to pinpoint precisely," notes Professor François Olivennes, a leading obstetrician-gynecologist and authority in medically assisted procreation. Fertility varies greatly individual to individual. For instance, women often face difficulties conceiving about 10 years before menopause—which can occur as early as 40 or as late as 60 for some. Thus, pregnancy remains possible between 30 and 50.
These benchmarks highlight the complexity of assessing fertility. Specialists sometimes cite conflicting studies, leaving patients perplexed without years of medical training. A recent debate sparked by psychologist Jean Twenge claims research showing fertility declines sharply after 35 is flawed, asserting that 80% of non-overweight white parous women can conceive at 38 or 39 within six months. Professor Olivennes counters firmly: "That's incorrect."
*Professor Olivennes is the author of Making a Child in the 20th Century, Ed. Flammarion.
