Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Age affects the fertility of men and women.
  • Age is the single biggest factor affecting a woman’s chance to conceive and have a healthy baby.
  • By around age 30, a woman’s fertility starts to slowly decline and by mid-30s the decline speeds up.
  • The risks of pregnancy complications increase as women age.
  • Male fertility decline is more subtle, but male age over 45 years increases the time it takes for the female partner to conceive, the risk of miscarriage, and the child’s risk of mental health and developmental disorders.

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Reviewed on: 28-09-2023