What Single Women Need to Know About Fertility in Their 30s and 40s
Personalised information is far more powerful than anything you’ll find on Google.
If you’re single and somewhere in your 30s or early 40s, chances are fertility has crossed your mind — even if you haven’t said it out loud.
Maybe it’s a quiet thought that pops up late at night.
Maybe it’s something you avoid Googling because it feels overwhelming.
Or maybe you’ve already started asking questions, but the answers feel confusing, contradictory, or far more dramatic than they need to be.
Here’s the truth most women don’t get told clearly enough:
You don’t need to panic.
But you do deserve accurate information.
Understanding your fertility isn’t about rushing you into decisions. It’s about giving you options, agency, and peace of mind — whether you’re actively trying to conceive, planning to soon, or simply wanting to know where you stand.
Let’s talk about what actually matters.
Fertility isn’t a switch — it’s a spectrum
One of the biggest myths women internalise is that fertility suddenly “falls off a cliff” at a certain birthday.
Real life is more nuanced than that.
Yes, fertility does change with age — particularly egg quantity — but it happens gradually, not overnight. Many women in their late 30s and early 40s conceive naturally or with support. Others discover they need help earlier than expected.
Age alone doesn’t tell the full story.
Your hormones, ovulation, egg quality, overall health, stress levels, and medical history all play a role — which is why personalised information matters far more than internet averages.
Egg quantity and egg quality are different things
This is an important distinction.
Egg quantity refers to how many eggs you have left. This naturally declines with age and is often measured using tests like AMH.
Egg quality refers to how healthy those eggs are — and this is influenced by things you can support, regardless of age.
Lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, stress, and environmental factors all play a role in egg quality. While you can’t turn back time, you can create the best possible environment for your body to do what it’s capable of doing.
This is where many women feel empowered rather than defeated — because there are things within your control.
Knowing your numbers can reduce anxiety — not create it
Many women avoid fertility testing because they’re afraid of what they’ll find.
Ironically, uncertainty is often more stressful than clarity.
Simple tests through your GP or fertility clinic — such as AMH, hormone levels, and ultrasounds — can give you a realistic picture of where you are right now. Not a prediction of your future. Not a verdict. Just information.
And information allows you to make decisions from a grounded place, rather than fear. At a minimum you understand whether you have the luxury of time to make the decision on whether or not to become a mum, or realise you need to take action sooner so you don’t miss out on your chance.
For many women they had these initial appointments too late and discovered some challenges for their fertility they weren’t aware of. There are other options to explore if you are not able to use your own eggs, but knowing your unique situation is the first step to understand what next steps could be.
Stress, pressure and burnout matter more than we admit
Trying to conceive — or even thinking about trying — can quietly become a source of ongoing stress.
Add in work, life, solo decision-making, and the emotional weight of doing this without a partner, and your nervous system is often running on empty.
Chronic stress doesn’t cause infertility, but it does affect hormones, sleep, inflammation, and your body’s ability to feel safe enough to prioritise reproduction.
Supporting your fertility isn’t just about supplements and checklists. It’s about supporting you.
You don’t need to do everything at once
This is where many women get stuck.
They think if they’re going to “take fertility seriously,” they need to overhaul their entire life overnight — diet, exercise, supplements, appointments, finances, plans for a baby they’re not even sure they’re ready for yet.
You don’t.
Small, intentional steps matter far more than perfection.
That’s why I created a simple, practical resource to help you start gently.
A gentle place to start: 10 lifestyle tips to support your fertility
If you’re wondering what you can do now — without pressure or overwhelm — I’ve created a free guide that walks you through 10 realistic lifestyle shifts that support fertility and egg health.
Nothing extreme. Nothing fear-based. Just evidence-informed, doable steps that help your body feel supported.
👉 Download: 10 lifestyle tips to boost your fertility
A practical starting point for women who want to feel proactive — not panicked.
If you’re trying to conceive or in early pregnancy
If you’re already trying — or you’ve recently found out you’re pregnant — support matters more than ever.
The early stages can feel isolating, especially when you’re navigating them solo. There’s a lot of emotional processing alongside appointments, scans, symptoms, and decisions.
That’s exactly why the Expecting Solo course exists.
It’s designed for women who are:
trying to conceive
about to start treatment
or in early pregnancy
It focuses on the emotional, practical and mental side of this stage — not just the medical side — so you feel informed, supported and less alone.
And for ongoing connection, The Bump membership offers community, expert guidance, and a space to share the experience with women who genuinely get it.
Final thoughts
You don’t need to have everything figured out right now.
You don’t need to decide today whether motherhood is happening this year, next year, or at all.
But you do deserve clear, honest information — and support that meets you where you are.
Understanding your fertility isn’t about pressure.
It’s about possibility.
And whatever path you take, you don’t have to navigate it alone.