11 Surprising Facts About Fertility That OB-GYNs Wish You Knew

Age is not the only obstacle to fertility

If you’ve ever felt the pressure from a family member to get crackin’ on the starting-the-family song-and-dance, then your age is usually brought into question. While the number “35” is traditionally tossed around, Brian Levin, MD, the founding partner and practice director of the fertility clinic, CCRM-New York, says many women much younger than their mid-thirties could be infertile, but don’t discover it until they begin trying to conceive. As a general rule of thumb (that definitely varies by the woman, the couple, and family history), women who are under 35 years old should try to get pregnant for a year before seeking medical attention, while those 35+ should give it six months before buckling down, according to Dr. Levine.