Fertility Through the Decades: What Really Changes in Your 20s, 30s and 40s

Fertility Through the Decades: What Really Changes in Your 20s, 30s and 40s

Author: Women's Health Melbourne December 7, 2025 Duration: 31:57

We take a look decade by decade look at how fertility changes across your 20s, 30s and 40s. Dr Raelia explains why the 20s are considered the biological peak, with high egg number, high egg quality and fewer health conditions that can interfere with conception. She also unpacks why lifestyle choices, while always important, have comparatively less impact at this age due to stronger cellular health. For those not yet ready for parenthood, the discussion covers practical ways to protect future fertility, including STI prevention and why late 20s remain the optimal window for elective egg freezing.

Moving into the 30s and 40s, the conversation explores how egg number, egg quality and natural conception rates gradually decline, why miscarriage becomes more common, and what this means for both natural conception and IVF success. Dr Raelia breaks down realistic expectations for each decade, when to seek specialist advice and how conditions like endometriosis often come to light in the 30s. The episode closes with grounded guidance for each age group, including the importance of not delaying parenthood unnecessarily, the role of genetic testing in IVF for women in their 40s and why men also experience age related fertility changes.

Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast

Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew).

Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email podcast@womenshealthmelbourne.com.au. We keep all requests anonymous.

Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here.

This episode is brought to you by Ellechemy - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew

Discount Code for 10% off and free shipping: KNOCKEDUP
Website: ellechemy.com.au/
Instagram: @ellechemy.com.au

Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi Morrison

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Ever found yourself with a question about your body or your journey to parenthood that felt too awkward or complex to ask? That’s exactly the space where Knocked Up: The Podcast About Fertility and Women's Health lives. Hosted by Dr Raelia Lew, a specialist from Women's Health Melbourne, alongside Jordi Morrison, this series digs into the realities of fertility, pregnancy, and overall health without the jargon or judgement. Each episode feels like a candid chat with knowledgeable friends who aren’t afraid to tackle the tough topics, translating complicated medical concepts into conversations you can actually follow and use. It’s more than just a fertility podcast; it’s a resource for anyone curious about how their body works, from preconception through to postpartum and general wellbeing. The tone is straightforward, empathetic, and grounded in real experience, making often overwhelming subjects feel manageable. You’ll come away with clearer insights, practical knowledge, and perhaps a bit of reassurance for your own path. For regular updates, the team can be found on social media, but the heart of it all is in these frank and essential discussions. Tune in for a genuinely accessible take on women’s health, where no question is off the table.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Knocked Up: The Podcast About Fertility and Women's Health
Podcast Episodes
Fertility and Peri/Menopause Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:52
In part 2 of our fertility and perimenopause series, Dr Raelia Lew takes us through the treatment pathways available for women in their 40s who are trying to conceive. We discuss embryo banking, PGT testing, IVF, donor e…
Fertility and Peri/Menopause Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
In part one of understanding our fertility and peri/menopause, we unpack why fertility becomes more challenging as we approach perimenopause. Dr Raelia explains how shifting hormones, irregular cycles, and declining egg…
PCOS: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:47
When you hear “PCOS”, it’s easy to think only of the negatives. But the story is far more complex. From why women with PCOS can actually have higher egg counts, to the fertility myths that cause unnecessary fear, this ep…
Lifestyle Factors Explored Part 2 with Dr Alexandra Harvey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:20
Part 2 of our 2-part series on lifestyle factors and fertility features Dr. Alexandra Harvey, Senior Research Scientist at Melbourne IVF. With 25 years of experience in embryology and fertility research, Dr. Harvey break…
Lifestyle Factors Explored Part 1 with Dr Alexandra Harvey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:46
Part 1 of our 2-part series on lifestyle factors and fertility features Dr. Alexandra Harvey, Senior Research Scientist at Melbourne IVF. With 25 years of experience in embryology and fertility research, Dr. Harvey break…
Could Your Gut Hold the Key to Fertility? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
Research suggests that digestive health may play a role in reproductive health, alongside established factors like ovulation tracking and prenatal nutrition. We are joined by gastroenterologist Dr. Lindy Jackson to uncov…
The Vitamin D and AMH connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
Ever wondered why your fertility specialist tests both AMH and vitamin D? In this episode of "Knocked Up," Dr. Raelia Lew explains the relationship between these two crucial markers and why it matters for your fertility…
Could IVM be the future of fertility care? With Dr Violet Kieu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:17
In our latest Knocked Up podcast episode we are joined by fertility specialist Dr. Violet Kieu to explore IVM—In Vitro Maturation—a promising alternative to IVF. Unlike IVF, IVM collects immature eggs and matures them in…
Embryo Centred Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:04
Unlike traditional patient-centred care, embryo-centred care focuses on optimising every step of the IVF process to prioritise what gives the embryo the best chance of success. Dr. Lew explains that IVF is not a one-size…