• A WOMAN'S INFERTILITY DECLINES AS SHE AGES

  
  Infertility Fact: According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the decline in female fertility begins at age 32 and accelerates from age 37 on (Committee opinion #589). As a woman ages, hormonal changes may also negatively affect fertility. 
   
  Infertility Awareness: Couples experiencing infertility, especially those who married later in life, feel particularly pressured in their pursuit of having children. They are keenly aware of the calendar and the clock, as well as the scrutiny of family, friends, and even strangers. Often people want to be helpful, but their intrusive questions and unsolicited advice can instead be hurtful.
   
  Action: Friends and family can be most helpful by taking their cue from the married couple. Be available to listen when the couple is ready to share, and don’t offer advice unless asked. If you don’t know a couple well, refrain from continuing to ask questions if they haven’t offered further details about their family size. If a struggling couple married later in life, resist assuming that they put off marriage for selfish reasons. Sometimes we have to wait until God brings us together! Be patient, and don’t assume the couple doesn’t want children, or that they don’t know about or haven’t tried medical interventions (like NaPro Technology), charting cycles, and making lifestyle changes. Love them, listen to them, be there for them, and give them space to share their struggle with infertility when they are ready.