Many women choose to have children at an older age for various reasons: being too busy with work and unable to focus on pregnancy or childcare; pursuing career success alongside their husbands; having a young husband who doesn’t want children yet; not believing that a marriage is incomplete without children; wanting to be child-free (DINK lifestyle); delaying pregnancy due to late marriage; aiming for significant career achievements to provide better material conditions for their children; having had an abortion and assuming that conceiving will be easy; or being unaware that fertility declines with age and believing that they can have children whenever they want. These are just some reasons women delay having children.

In reality, while many people see female celebrities having children in their 40s, they may overlook the fact that many other celebrities face difficulties conceiving at an advanced age and ultimately do not have children. For women who plan to have children in their lifetime, it’s crucial not to miss the optimal time for fertility. Remember, “everything has its time,” and the window for having children is limited. Some women may have a fertility span of 30 years, while others may only have 10.

  1. The Relationship Between Age and Fertility in Women Earlier data suggest that for women without fertility issues, at age 30, 75% can conceive within a year, and 91% can conceive within four years. By age 35, 66% can conceive within a year, and 84% within four years. At age 40, only 44% can conceive within a year, and 64% within four years. This shows that as age increases, even in the absence of health problems, fertility declines. If there are additional health issues, the chances of conception drop even faster.
  2. There Is an Optimal Age for Fertility While the optimal reproductive age for men is 25–35, for women, it’s slightly earlier, between 24–30. During this period, the endocrine, nervous, and reproductive systems are fully mature, and egg quality is at its peak. Women at this age have life experience, quick reflexes, active thinking, and abundant energy, all of which benefit child-rearing.
  3. Delaying Pregnancy Comes with Many Risks As women age, especially after 35, the likelihood of developing health complications increases, the number of follicles decreases, and the chances of egg aging or abnormalities rise. There is an increased risk of chromosomal aneuploidy, miscarriage, biochemical pregnancy, and giving birth to a child with congenital defects. Pregnancy complications and difficult labor are also more likely. If a woman waits too long and her ovaries no longer have viable eggs, and she hasn’t frozen her eggs when younger, using donor eggs may be the only option for her to conceive.