When Should You Start Thinking About Fertility?

 It's rarely something people think about too early, but at some point, the question comes up: Should I start thinking about my fertility? No matter whether children are something you want to have now, in the future, or are not even sure about, knowing how age impacts fertility can help you make choices that will work for you.

Why Age Plays a Role

Women can get pregnant most easily in their 20s, but fertility starts to decline in the early 30s. After 35, fertility declines more rapidly, and miscarriage or complications may be higher.
Men's fertility declines at a less dramatic rate but it does decline nonetheless. As men age, sperm quality gets poorer which may make it harder to get pregnant and may increase certain health risks for the baby.

So, at what age should you start thinking about your fertility?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this—your timeline will depend on your goals, health, relationship status,  and a million other life factors. But here's the rough guide that will help you tune into your  options:

In Your 20s

You are likely at your most fertile. If babies are not on your mind right now, this is a good time to get an idea of how fertility works.  Little things like eating well, sleeping enough, and managing stress can all help your future reproductive health.

Early 30s

If you are starting to think about children one day, it might be worth finding out more about your current fertility health. It's a good idea to see your GP or a fertility doctor to check your hormone levels to see if you are in the average range for your age.  It may be worth looking into egg freezing to keep your options open.  If you have been  trying to conceive for over 12 months and not having any luck, it's a good time to get a referral from your GP to see a fertility specialist.

35 and Up

As you get older, it gets harder to conceive, especially as you get into your late 30s and beyond. It doesn’t mean that pregnancy is out of the question – but it’s a good idea to be more proactive. If you’ve been trying to conceive for 6 months or more without success, consider speaking to a fertility specialist.

Keeping Your Options Open

There are a few ways  you can plan ahead if you are not ready for kids just yet:

• AMH (hormone) test – a simple way to check whether your ovarian reserve is in the right range for your age.  However, this just gives a guide to egg reserve at that point in time, and doesn't tell you about your fertility or the likelihood that you will have a baby.
• Egg freezing – best done before 35, when egg quantity and quality are usually high.
• Sperm freezing – a simple, straightforward option for men thinking long term.
• Embryo freezing – for couples who want to preserve fertilised embryos for future use when they are ready.

Final Thoughts