Talk about family planning.

A newly released study has shown that women may be able to take a genetic test to determine the future of their fertility.
While a woman’s fertility drops more rapidly after the age of 37, Dr. Neri Laufer from Haddassah University presented his study at the European Fertility Conference, revealing that women who are able to give birth after the age of 45 have a special genetic profile that protects against DNA damage and early cell death (which both affect the ovaries).
So through a blood sample, it may be possible to tell a woman when she personally will lose her fertility. This is additional to a test that will be able to tell a woman when she’ll be getting the big menopause.
Bill Ledger, professor of reproductive and developmental medicine at the University of Sheffield in England said that the study makes sense, and can be of a great advantage to women who wish to have kids in the future.
“Right around the corner is hormone testing that gives you some idea of how many eggs you’ve got left. Do that when you’re 30, again when you’re 32 and again when you’re 34. Plot your individual graph and if it’s declining you…have a family.”
I thought it was interesting that on the same day that this story’s been posted, the Washington Times came out with an article titled, “Delaying Pregnancy Carries Big Risks”, which discussed the various physical and psychological damage (apparently called the “misery factor”) that pregnancy can have on older women. Their study’s take on it was that “The 35-45 range is possible at a cost and motherhood after 45 is ‘only for the healthy and wealthy.’”