[Desdemona]

As well, when we were young, we were told that fertility would hold up well at least until about age 35.

That somewhat depends on the genes. One of my great-grandmothers had six after 35, in six years, and the great-great grandmothers on the other side had four and five after 35. It's never a guarantee, but when one is dealing with God, anything is possible.

[sitetest]

Dear Desdemona,

Certainly, many folks have children well into their 30s, and even well into their 40s. I was born when my father was 35, and my mother was 33.

But statistically, the drop-off in fertility after age 28 is large. Partly as a result of the more common delay of childbearing into one's 30s, about one out of seven married couples who wish to have children wind up unable to conceive. Factor that into Hermann's statistics, and see what it does to the per couple ratios.


sitetest

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

That somewhat depends on the genes. One of my great-grandmothers had six after 35, in six years, and the great-great grandmothers on the other side had four and five after 35. It's never a guarantee, but when one is dealing with God, anything is possible.

You bet. My Nonna had her last baby at 45. Not ideal, but she didn't marry until age 33. She had seven pregnancies.