Over the past few decades , fertility rates have dropped across the world . Women ' s empowerment and ascension into the workforce has offered a different path to happiness from staying in the home . For those families who do want children , the higher cost of living and financial toll of childcare has resulted in smaller families . Yet , many couples ( and , in the modern age , many individuals ) want to conceive and some struggle to do so .

Fertility decreases with age . Studies show that for people having regular unprotected sex , those aged 19 to 26 have a 92 % chance of conceiving after one year , while those aged 35 to 39 have an 82 % chance . Age is not the only factor , with both weight and lifestyle choices , such as smoking , also playing a part .

For every family looking to conceive , there is a cultural practice waiting to help them :

110 September 2022