It is important to understand that fertility declines as a woman ages due to the normal age-related decrease in the number of eggs that remain in her ovaries. Even though women today are healthier and taking better care of themselves than ever before, improved health in later life does not offset the natural age-related decline in fertility. In today’s society, age-related infertility is becoming more common because, for a variety of reasons, many women wait until their 30s to begin their families. Generally, reproductive potential decreases as women get older, and fertility can be expected to end 5 to 10 years before menopause. It is commonly understood that after menopause women are no longer able to become pregnant. For girls, the beginning of their reproductive years is marked by the onset of ovulation and menstruation. Both males and females become fertile in their teens following puberty. Download a PDF of this fact sheet Introductionįertility changes with age.
