Many women want to wait until they are in their 30s to have children, a decision that often makes practical and financial sense. The difference between getting pregnant in your early 30s versus your late thirties, however, is huge. As this decade progresses, your fertility goes into free fall, according to MSN Health and Fitness.

Fertility Declines

The number 35 takes on some significance when you want to get pregnant. Your fertility declines when you are older than 35. You ovulate less often. You have occasional menstrual cycles where you never release an egg, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Also, the egg quality declines after you turn 35.

How Long it Takes

Plan on it taking longer to get pregnant if you are older than 35. It takes couples an average of one to two years to conceive at this age. It is wise to contact your health care provider if you have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for longer than six months. You may be a candidate for fertility treatment, and your doctor can test you.

Complications

Not only is it more difficult to get pregnant when you are older than 35, genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, are more common. You also run a greater risk of having a cesarean section or an ectopic pregnancy, according to MSN Health. Miscarriages are more common, too. Women 35- to 45-years-old have a 20 percent to 35 percent chance of having a miscarriage.

Rising Birthrate

It may be more difficult to get pregnant when you are older than 35, but it is not impossible. More women are opting to have babies later in life, according to the BabyCenter website. In 2000, the birth rate among woman age 35 to 39 was up 30 percent from 1990.

Twins

If you are considering having your first child after the age of 35, also consider your second child. By the time you are ready for that, it will be even more difficult to conceive. You might have twins the first time around, though. Women age 35 to 39 are the most likely group to have twins, according to MSN Health. Even without fertility treatments, your follicle stimulating hormone level increases, meaning you release more than one egg per cycle. This increases your chances of having a multiple birth.