Does a few months matter?

[Clara202]

Hi there. I’m 36, 37 in July. We want to start trying soon. I know at my age the decline can be rapid but can anyone tell me if a few months can make that much of a difference? I was thinking of trying in August ie have a nice summer together, go on a holiday, eat/drink what I want at the many events that we’re invited to over the next few months.
But considering my age, should I be jumping off the pill right now and starting right away, and parking any summer plans? I’m on cerazette for the past two years. If anyone else has been in the same boat re not knowing when to start I’d love any advice!

Personally I would at least come off that pill now as it can take several months for everything to settle down after coming off contraception. It’s also very normal for many couples to take up to a year to conceive with no fertility issues so I’d also take that into account too

I started seeing a fertility consultant last march was 36 and it took so many months of them messing me around and I was worried about the effect that might have .we also willingly took a break for a holiday in August and then over Christmas which I really regretted only to find out i was pregnant naturally a few days after my 37th birthday. ( unfortunately I did lose it) but it's definitely possible which was a bit of a shock since we couldn't even get pregnant in our 20s or early 30s .
There's lots of positive stories of women in their late 30s getting pregnant. The decline is gradual, its not a cliff like they make out so I honestly don't think I few months would make a difference. If you were planning to wait a year or two that's when it would possibly make a difference.

I honestly wouldn’t wait. It may not make much difference but if you end up taking ages to conceive then you’ll regret it.

Personally I wouldn't wait. It's not so much that your fertility will change a lot over the next few months, but more that if you do struggle to get pregnant and need to have investigations / intervention then these may take a while (due to waiting lists etc) and it's best to have them done on the right side of 40 if possible. So it's not that you'll be a lot more fertile now than in August, but more that you'll be cutting down the window for seeking help by 6 months.

And even if it does happen quickly, you can still go on holiday and have a nice summer even if you're pregnant! It's just that you won't be able to drink. You can fly until 8 months pregnant.

I my experience yes 8 months mattered. I was having lots of investigations (and IVF) and could see during that time how things changed first hand

Also put it this way - at age 36 you would be eligible for IVF on the NHS. At 37 in many trusts you wouldn't

I just turned 37 and I wouldn't wait. With my first I came off the pill when I was 33 and didn't get pregnant for a year (started casual and then actively monitored cycles/used OPKs when it wasn't happening and got pregnant on the 4th cycle I was monitoring). I'm currently on my 3rd cycle since my periods started again after bf. We are conditioned from early on that we fall pregnant the minute we decide it's time, and whilst that does happen for some, it more often than not takes a few cycles. However, if you really want a summer of drinking etc than of course that's your choice to make! Just be aware that getting pregnant may take longer than you're anticipating. Also bear in mind, are you likely to want another later on? As obviously those months later will matter even more. X

I'd come off the pill as it may take a while to come out your system and just use condoms until you're ready. I got pregnant the first month of trying at 36 so do what is right for you

Thanks for all your advice, lots to think about! I realise my initial message makes it sound like I just want to drink all summer 😂 So my predicament is that we had 3 different holidays planned, and we have a few weddings too, one abroad. We, like lots of other couples, never really got to travel together and didn’t get a lot of couple experiences together, due to the fact that we met right before Covid. It’s only in the last year that we were able to take our first holiday together, attend social events together etc. We had such a lovely year doing normal couple stuff I guess I’m a bit reluctant to cut this time short. I wouldn’t get on a plane pregnant, as I am absolutely terrified. It takes a few glasses of wine, sometimes even a Xanax, to get me on the plane so it’s not that I just want to drink on holiday, it’s that I need to drink to get me on holiday😅I also take medication for a skin condition that I’d have to give up if I bit pregnant, which would likely mean feeling pretty self conscious of how I look at all these social events we have planned this summer, to the extent that I probably wouldn’t want to go. I’m not in the UK so the NHS won’t be any help to me either unfortunately. I wish there was a way of knowing if it was going to work right away or if there’s a struggle ahead. I might just compromise with myself, book an early holiday in May and start then. I guess any holiday or any event I miss out on, would be a distant memory compared to having a little one 🥰