I think people just live differently these days, and don't even start thinking about kids till much later. A lot of people aren't making the conscious choice to delay, but time suddenly sneaks up.

There is a point in life where you learn to mind your own business and quit making nasty judgments about other people's choices.

I started menopause at 39 and was finished by 42. You just never know what will happen if you wait too long. I agree that celebs and the media make it seem very easy to be an older mom.

I don't think women are being unrealistic about conception after their twenties or thirties. There's a balance between putting all your ducks in a row so you have the means to provide for your children while still having the energy to keep up with them. My husband and I waited until he was established in his career so we could afford for me to stay home with our three children, but I have often said that if we had started having children at a younger age we would have had a larger family. We love children, but now I'm in my forties I'm glad we are done with the diapers and the pureeing of food and not having to hunt for a babysitter if I have somewhere to go for a few hours. My children help more with the cooking and cleaning and life for me has gotten less labor intensive. We are not all clones. I really feel like we have a duty to support and encourage one another no matter what age we are when we start our families.

I guess that statistic shows how an average is not representative of most. A 95% failure rate is practically as good as most birth control. Why even bother with contraception after your mid 30s? I don't think this is accurate for most healthy women who have not gone through early menopause. I'm 41 with a 4 year old and a 12 month old and did not try at all, just let nature take it's course and it did. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I think there is a lot more negative press about "older" moms than positive. The OB treats you like you're a ticking time bomb. It makes you feel older just by all the drama :-) Women have been having kids at this age all along, they just started earlier and had more children.

I think it is a combination of women waiting until later in life to get married, establish careers, and have children, as well as what is being fueled by the media and/or celebrities who make it seem very easy to have kids in your 40's (they all have nannies and other help at their disposal!). I had my son at 39 (now I'm 41 and he's 2) and have made a conscious decision to only have one child because I know the complications that can arise with trying to conceive and having a child into your 40's. Ultimately, women in this older age category need to do what's right for them.

I am fascinated by the 5% statistic, and also find it hard to believe. We waited, and knew we were taking our chances, but were OK with whatever happened. I had our first at 38 and at 40, we tried for one more, but ended up with twins (naturally - no twins in the family). When the doc told us, he said the incidences of natural twins increases as you get older - which is something maybe more doctors should tell women in their 40's who are thinking about conceiving!