How Long Can You Really Wait to Have Kids? Here’s a Graph (INFOGRAPHIC)

Chart of percentage chance of success when starting families at various ages.
A study shows the best ages to begin 1, 2 and 3-child families. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

A new study estimates the maximum age at which a woman should start trying to become pregnant if she wants to have a certain number of children. The age of the man can also affect pregnancy chances, but this study focused on female age because it has a bigger impact on fertility. The researchers took into account whether the couple was willing to use in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the chance of success that couples were willing to accept.

Karl Tate
LiveScience Infographic Artist
Karl has been Purch's infographics specialist across all editorial properties since 2010.  Before joining Purch, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University.