Childbearing age refers to the age range during which a woman is able to conceive and give birth to a child. Technically, a woman can get pregnant and bear children from puberty when they start getting their menstrual period to menopause when they stop getting it. However, fertility naturally declines as women get older, and the odds of conceiving gradually lower. The ideal childbearing age is often considered to be in the late 20s and early 30s, as this age range is associated with the best outcomes for both the mother and the baby. By age 30, fertility starts to decline, and this decline happens faster once a woman reaches her mid-30s. By age 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely. Delaying having children defies nature and risks heartbreak, as age-related fertility problems increase after 35 and dramatically after 40, and once a woman is pregnant, outcomes for both the mother and child are poorer. However, the timing of when to have children is unique for each woman, and emotional and financial readiness to start a family should also be considered. If a woman is older than 35 and has not gotten pregnant after 6 months of having regular sex without using birth control, an infertility evaluation is recommended. If she is older than 40, an evaluation is recommended before trying to get pregnant.