Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
From the Radiolab podcast: After 35, does fertility tank?
As she—and her friends—approached the age of 35, senior correspondent Molly Webster kept hearing a phrase over and over: “fertility cliff.” It was a short-hand term to describe what she was told would happen to her fertility after she turned 35—that is, it would drop off. Suddenly, sharply, dramatically. And this was well before she was supposed to hit menopause. Intrigued, Molly decided to look into it. What was the truth behind this so-called cliff, and when, if so, would she topple?
This story first premiered in “Thirty Something,” a 2018 Radiolab live show that was part of Gonads, (radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads)a six-episode audio and live event series all about reproduction and the parts of us that make more of us. The live event was produced by Rachael Cusick and edited by Pat Walters.
Special thanks to epidemiologist Lauren Wise at Boston University. Plus Emily, Chloe and Bianca. And of course, Jad Abumrad.
If you’re more of a visual person, here are the graphs we explain in the episode, we also include links to the corresponding papers in our Episode Citations Section, below!
LINK TO GRAPHS:
internal.wnyc.org/admin/cms/image/249243
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Molly Webster
Produced by Arianne Wack
Fact-checking by Diane A. Kelly
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Audio:
Gonads (radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads/)
A six-part audio series on reproduction and the parts of us that make more of us
The Menopause Mystery (radiolab.org/podcast/the-menopause-mystery)
One of Radiolab’s most listened-to episodes of 2025!
Videos:
“Radiolab Presents: Thirty Something”
youtu.be/LOJVAaSwags?si=czCBraHf1JEqmAQi
Research Articles:
Graph 1: Can assisted reproduction technology compensate for the natural decline in fertility with age? A model assessment (zpr.io/ft6dqdbkJnTd)
Graph 2: Ovarian aging: mechanisms and clinical consequences (zpr.io/GrPLebynpvxV) , Brookmans, et al.
BUT, the graph was borrowed and actually comes from this 1991 paper, Delaying childbearing: effect of age on fecundity and outcome of pregnancy” (zpr.io/whWg2UAZsb6h)
Graph 3 and 4: Age and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study, (zpr.io/Rmqry4Kd67hY) Wise et al; Dutch fertility research
Further reading:
Predicting Fertility, (zpr.io/YEdfiYT29rUh): Magazine article on Lauren Wise’s research.
Episode Segments:
00:00 Intro
16:36 Chapter 2
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🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
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Photo illustration by Mikey Burton
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
From the Radiolab podcast: After 35, does fertility tank?
As she—and her friends—approached the age of 35, senior correspondent Molly Webster kept hearing a phrase over and over: “fertility cliff.” It was a short-hand term to describe what she was told would happen to her fertility after she turned 35—that is, it would drop off. Suddenly, sharply, dramatically. And this was well before she was supposed to hit menopause. Intrigued, Molly decided to look into it. What was the truth behind this so-called cliff, and when, if so, would she topple?
This story first premiered in “Thirty Something,” a 2018 Radiolab live show that was part of Gonads, (radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads)a six-episode audio and live event series all about reproduction and the parts of us that make more of us. The live event was produced by Rachael Cusick and edited by Pat Walters.
Special thanks to epidemiologist Lauren Wise at Boston University. Plus Emily, Chloe and Bianca. And of course, Jad Abumrad.
If you’re more of a visual person, here are the graphs we explain in the episode, we also include links to the corresponding papers in our Episode Citations Section, below!
LINK TO GRAPHS:
internal.wnyc.org/admin/cms/image/249243
EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by Molly Webster
Produced by Arianne Wack
Fact-checking by Diane A. Kelly
EPISODE CITATIONS:
Audio:
Gonads (radiolab.org/series/radiolab-presents-gonads/)
A six-part audio series on reproduction and the parts of us that make more of us
The Menopause Mystery (radiolab.org/podcast/the-menopause-mystery)
One of Radiolab’s most listened-to episodes of 2025!
Videos:
“Radiolab Presents: Thirty Something”
youtu.be/LOJVAaSwags?si=czCBraHf1JEqmAQi
Research Articles:
Graph 1: Can assisted reproduction technology compensate for the natural decline in fertility with age? A model assessment (zpr.io/ft6dqdbkJnTd)
Graph 2: Ovarian aging: mechanisms and clinical consequences (zpr.io/GrPLebynpvxV) , Brookmans, et al.
BUT, the graph was borrowed and actually comes from this 1991 paper, Delaying childbearing: effect of age on fecundity and outcome of pregnancy” (zpr.io/whWg2UAZsb6h)
Graph 3 and 4: Age and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study, (zpr.io/Rmqry4Kd67hY) Wise et al; Dutch fertility research
Further reading:
Predicting Fertility, (zpr.io/YEdfiYT29rUh): Magazine article on Lauren Wise’s research.
Episode Segments:
00:00 Intro
16:36 Chapter 2
🎧 Subscribe to Radiolab wherever you listen to podcasts: lnk.to/radiolab!youtube
🔎 Subscribe to Radiolab on YouTube: bit.ly/3I9KI53
🖋 Subscribe to Radiolab’s Newsletter: radiolab.org/newsletter
🌱 Check out Radiolab's Starter Kit Playlist: bit.ly/3sX8f4P
👍 Like this video ✏️ and leave us a comment!
Follow Radiolab:
Instagram — instagram.com/radiolab
X — https://x.com/Radiolab
Facebook — facebook.com/Radiolab
Threads — threads.net/@radiolab
TikTok — tiktok.com/@radiolab
Our newsletter includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up here: radiolab.org/newsletter
Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today: radiolab.org/the-lab
Photo illustration by Mikey Burton
Video by W. Harry Fortuna
