ABSTRACT
Unlike men, women are bound by a window of time in which conceiving a child is possible. A woman's peak fertility years usually begin in the late teens and go through the mid-20s. Fertility then slowly declines, making natural conception, or even assisted conception, more difficult as she moves into her 40s. She may struggle physically and cognitively and emotionally with hormonal changes and the finality of approaching menopause. This timeline often conflicts with necessary precursors to parenthood, such as finding a partner and establishing professional and financial stability. Women who delay parenthood to focus on career advancement and personal independence may be left with the biological consequences associated with delaying pregnancy. They may experience difficulty or the inability to conceive, face the possibility of high-risk pregnancies, and fear an increased risk of birth defects. These often private fertility struggles are amplified by celebrations of peers’ pregnancies and rituals such as baby showers and selecting names. After reading this chapter, the reader will understand the unique experience of aging women experiencing infertility.
