Your fertility declines gradually from around age 32, and faster after 37 (ASRM, Committee Opinion 589, 2014). Still, getting pregnant after 35 is often very possible. It can just take longer, and the room to take it slowly gets smaller. AMH gives an impression of your ovarian reserve, not a chance.
I notice this topic causes a lot of worry, especially through messages that paint the age clock as a hard deadline. My position: age counts, but it is not an on-off switch. Below you read what changes in your fertility, what AMH says about it and how to get insight without panicking.
How does your fertility change with age?
Women are born with a fixed store of eggs. That store declines over the years, in number and in quality. From your mid-thirties this goes faster, which gradually lowers the chance per cycle and can lengthen the time to a pregnancy.
That is an average, not a prediction for you personally. Many women get pregnant after 35 without any problem. The table below shows what changes in broad terms, and what women in each phase often ask about.
| Age phase | What gradually changes | What women often ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Up to around 32 | Fertility relatively stable | Cycle and timing of ovulation |
| 32 to 37 | Gradual decline in chance per cycle | Their ovarian reserve, often via AMH |
| 37 and older | Faster decline in chance and quality | Taking time versus getting insight |
This table is a general picture, not advice on when to do something. What suits you depends on your situation and is best discussed with a doctor. Want to see the whole hormone picture? Read our overview of fertility testing.
What does AMH say about your fertility after 35?
AMH gives an impression of how many follicles you still have in reserve, your ovarian reserve. It declines with age and can therefore fit your life phase. What it does not do: predict whether and when you will get pregnant.
A low AMH does not mean pregnancy is impossible, and a high AMH is no guarantee. The number says something about quantity, not about the quality of an egg. So an AMH result always belongs in the context of your age and your question. You read more in AMH value by age.
How long does getting pregnant after 35 take?
On average it takes older women a bit longer before a pregnancy occurs. Many couples under 35 conceive within a year; over 35 that period is often a little longer. That is an average, not a law.
The ASRM notes that women over 35 who have been trying for a while may benefit from an evaluation sooner than younger women (ASRM, 2014). When that moment is differs per person. A GP or gynaecologist can think along about what makes sense in your situation.
How do you get insight without panicking?
Insight often helps better than worry. A test maps your hormones, so you know where you stand instead of guessing. The Fertility Assessment looks at AMH, FSH and LH among others.
That is not a verdict and not a prediction. It is information that lets you think more calmly about your timing and your options. Still unsure whether testing is for you? In fertility testing: what you need to know you read how to begin. You then discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
Is 35 really a turning point?
Not as a hard line. The decline is gradual and starts earlier, around 32, and speeds up later, around 37. The age of 35 is often named because doctors look in sooner above it when pregnancy does not happen.
Can I check my egg reserve myself?
You can test AMH, which gives an impression of your ovarian reserve. It says something about quantity, not about quality, and predicts no pregnancy. Discuss the result in the context of your age with a doctor.
References
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Gynecologic Practice and Practice Committee. Female age-related fertility decline. Committee Opinion No. 589. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(3):633-634. PMID: 24559617.
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Testing and interpretation of measures of ovarian reserve: a committee opinion. ASRM, 2020.
- NHG and Thuisarts.nl. It is not working to get pregnant (subfertility). Dutch College of General Practitioners. Available via thuisarts.nl.
Every blood test result through Lunara includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
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