Do you know the shelf life of your fertility?

By Guest Writer, Emily Beaver

Like many women, when I was in my late twenties, I was much more concerned with avoiding pregnancy than my ability to conceive. Single and unsure if I even wanted kids, I breathed a sigh of relief whenever the words “not pregnant” appeared in the bubble on my pregnancy tests.

Since I turned 30, I’ve started to think about what it would be like to become a mom. To be honest, a little part of me wouldn’t be so troubled by seeing a plus sign. I’ve also had a disconcerting thought… since I have never been pregnant, how do I know if I can conceive?

I’d heard that a woman’s ability to have children declines during her thirties. Stories about the trend of women freezing their eggs to buy themselves more time have been all over the news recently, and some of my friends are even considering it.

As a teen, I was taught how not to get pregnant. Marriage and financial security are an important part of my personal decision about when to have children. But now that I’m in my early thirties, I’m starting to wonder about the shelf life of my fertility. Have I missed my most fertile years?

So, as you might imagine, I first turned to Google. It turns out although age is important, it’s not the only factor that can affect fertility.

According to the ASRM’s Protect Your Fertility campaign, smoking, being overweight or underweight, and even some sexually transmitted infections, can lead to infertility. I knew avoiding these things was good for my overall well being – but what I didn’t realize was that avoiding them could also decrease my risk for infertility.

It’s comforting to know that practicing healthy behaviors can help me protect my fertility, but I won’t know for sure if I can get pregnant until I try. And right now that’s not something I’m ready to find out.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on leading a healthy lifestyle and tracking my cycles. With Glow, the data I enter helps me to learn about my reproductive cycles and understand my personal fertility window – so when I am ready to try, I’m armed with all the necessary information.

What are you doing to protect your future fertility for when you’re ready to try?