possibly a stupid question but...

[potatofactory]

If you started your periods late (I was well over 15) does that give you a bit more leeway in terms of conceiving later?

Stupid question?

I mean conceiving later in life

Not a stupid question at all. The thought is that if you start your period early you will be more likely to start menopause early. However, there is also the likelihood that you will go through menopause similar to when and how your mother did, or will.

The difference will usually only be slight however. The majority of women will start to see a decline in fertility in their 30's...even more so in their late 30's and into their 40's. It becomes fairly uncommon for a women in her mid to late 40's to become pregnant without medical assistance...but those "change of life" babies do happen....

also would have thought that issues with the eggs themselves would still occur at the same age as a woman who started periods earlier as you are born with your eggs, so they start ageing from day one.

Very interesting, thanks! Just hoping really, as the years tick by and still no sign of dc2

good point too, lulumama. Hadn't thought of that!

sorry to hear that,

judging by the conception boards on here, secondary infertility is really widespread.

have you been referred to a fertility clinic?

No - I guess that's the next step...