Dr. Patrick Akpor Anum, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, has revealed that women begin to experience a natural decline in fertility after the age of 33.


Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show with Valerie Danso, Dr. Anum explained that while women are born with a fixed number of eggs, the quality and quantity of these eggs begin to diminish significantly in their early thirties, affecting their chances of conception. He emphasized that this biological change is a natural process and not necessarily influenced by lifestyle alone, although certain health choices can either hasten or slow the decline.

According to Dr. Anum, by the time a woman reaches her mid-thirties, the likelihood of conception per menstrual cycle drops considerably, and the risk of miscarriage or chromosomal abnormalities also increases.

He noted that societal trends such as delayed marriage, career prioritization, and economic pressures have led many women to postpone childbirth, often unaware of how critical age is in reproductive health. He further advised women who wish to have children later in life to seek early reproductive counseling or consider fertility preservation methods such as egg freezing.

Dr. Anum also used the platform to encourage public education on fertility awareness, stressing that many couples struggle with infertility because of misconceptions and late medical consultations.

He called for regular fertility assessments for women in their late twenties and early thirties to enable timely interventions. His remarks have since sparked public conversations about reproductive planning and the need for both men and women to make informed decisions about family life based on accurate medical information.