Fertility often feels like something you only need to worry about when you’re ready to start a family. The truth is, understanding your fertility earlier in life gives you the power to make informed choices about your future. Whether you plan to have children or not, it’s helpful to know that your fertility changes as you get older, and can also be influenced by lifestyle and health conditions.

Accessible, inclusive, and accurate fertility education isn’t just for people trying to conceive, it’s something that benefits everyone. When you understand how your fertility works and what affects it, you’re better equipped to make confident, informed decisions that align with your goals, whatever they may be.

Why Fertility Education Matters

Fertility touches almost every part of life, from family and career planning to decisions about health and relationships. But too often, we only start learning about fertility when something isn’t going according to plan.

A lack of knowledge can lead to missed opportunities or misconceptions. For example, many women assume that as long as they’re healthy, getting pregnant won’t be difficult, and that they can rely on IVF if needed. But while IVF works for some people, it’s not guaranteed to succeed, and using lower-quality eggs or sperm reduces the chances of success.

Imagine this: a woman in her late 30s starts trying for a baby, only to find out her ovarian reserve (the number of eggs she has) is lower than expected. She might wish she’d learned about what affects fertility earlier, so she could have made lifestyle changes, been aware of health conditions that impact fertility, or considered options like egg freezing.

Fertility knowledge is power. It allows you to plan, prepare, and feel more in control of your reproductive health instead of being caught off guard.

Gaps in Current Education

Despite how important fertility is, it’s not something we talk about much. For many of us, our first formal education about reproduction (if we get any) comes through “sex ed” at school, and even then, the focus is usually on avoiding pregnancy and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Fertility, when mentioned, is rarely framed as something to understand and take care of throughout life.

This can lead to an unbalanced view: young people grow up knowing how not to get pregnant, but not understanding how pregnancy happens, what affects fertility, or that fertility declines with age for both women and men (with a sharp decline after 35 for women).

As adults, things don’t get much better. Public information about fertility is limited, and conversations about it can feel awkward or taboo. In many cultures, topics like reproductive health and infertility are still seen as private or even shameful. These barriers can make it harder for people to ask questions, seek support, or learn about their options until they face challenges first-hand.

Better education in schools, workplaces, and communities can help break down these barriers. When fertility becomes a normal part of health conversations, it opens the door for empathy, support, and informed decision-making at every stage of life.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Fertility education should be for everyone. That means information that’s clear, non-judgmental, and inclusive of diverse experiences, whether you’re single, in a same-sex relationship, living with a health condition, or you’re not sure if you want children. Understanding fertility isn’t just about women’s bodies, either. Men’s reproductive health plays an equally important role, yet is discussed even less.

Accessible resources help everyone — partners, friends, and families — understand and support each other’s fertility journeys.

Reliable Sources of Information

If you’re ready to start learning, choose trustworthy sources. Evidence-based educational websites like Fertility Choices, your doctor, and public health organisations are excellent places to start.

AI tools like ChatGPT-5 or Copilot can also be useful for quick overviews or answering specific questions. They’re great for exploring topics in your own time, but they shouldn’t replace expert advice. Always double-check advice with reliable sources and discuss important decisions with your doctor. Your doctor should always be your most trusted source of information.

Conclusion

Knowledge really is power, especially when it comes to fertility. The more you understand about your reproductive health, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel to make decisions that fit your life, your goals, and your body.

Be proactive: start learning about fertility today. Talk about it with your loved ones. Bring it up at your next doctor’s appointment. And if you’re curious about where your fertility might stand right now, try our Fertility Age Calculator to take the first step toward understanding your body better. Your future self will thank you for it.