Q: How do I find out what my fertility window might be?

We tend to assume conception will happen easily, and are surprised when it doesn't.

The primary reason the fertility business is thriving today is because more people are postponing childbearing until the late 30s, when the quality of remaining eggs is on a quick decline.

As we learned from a panel of 15 fertility specialists, in our Choice Mom Guide to Fertility, there are three primary factors involved in a woman's ability to produce eggs for conception.

1) Age -- Both quantity and quality of eggs is reduced as a woman gets older, especially after the age of 37. Every woman's egg production will differ. Some have diminished capacity earlier; some later.
2) Size of ovaries -- An ovary that is not producing eggs will be smaller than one that is producing more eggs. This can be evaluated by ultrasound if necessary.
3) Production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) -- The pituitary gland produces FSH, which stimulates ovarian follicles to grow. Some women need more help to produce eggs. Especially for a woman over the age of 35, determining FSH level before costly insemination attempts is advisable.

There are many more steps on the fertility journey, as you'll find on this growing Choice Moms library on the right, but start with fully understanding your own fertility -- especially if you are in your 30s and 40s.

For starters, listen to the expert insight of Dr. Steven Nakajima (Louisville) and Dr. Jim Toner (Atlanta), both of the IntegraMed fertility network, on our Ask the Fertility Expert Q&A section.

Other questions you'll find answered on this website about fertility:
If my FSH level is high, what does this mean?
How do I detect my ovulation?

This great list of 10 fertility myths (although written for couples), provided by Patricia Mendell of American Fertility Association, is a useful snapshot of what we think we know, but don't usually have right.

Lastly, I have done three podcasts dedicated specifically to the topic of fertility: