Sample Newsletter: Fertility
CLIENT: Dr. Sarah Patel, MD
TONE: Warm and conversational
SPECIALTY: Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
CLIENT SUBMITTED (everyday life story via bi-weekly form):
“Friend announced her engagement at dinner last night. I asked about wedding timeline and she said ‘We’re thinking two years out—want to enjoy being engaged, travel a bit, save money.’ She’s 38. Mentioned she wants kids someday. Had no idea fertility changes significantly after 35.”
NEWSLETTER WE CREATED
SUBJECT: The conversation I had at dinner last night
A close friend announced her engagement at dinner last night. I was thrilled for her.
When I asked about wedding plans, she said, “We’re thinking about two years out. We want to enjoy being engaged, do some traveling, save up for the wedding. No rush.”
She’s 38. Later in the conversation, she mentioned she definitely wants kids someday.
And I realized she had no idea that “someday” might be more time-sensitive than she thought.
I didn’t bring it up at dinner—it wasn’t the moment—but the conversation has stayed with me because I have versions of it in my office every single week.
Women in their late thirties who assumed fertility was something they could plan for “later.” Women who thought 40 was the new 30 when it comes to having children. Women who didn’t know that fertility changes significantly after 35—and even more after 38.
Here’s what I wish more women knew: you can’t see your fertility declining. You feel exactly the same at 38 as you did at 28. Your periods are regular. You feel healthy. Everything seems fine.
But your ovarian reserve—the number and quality of eggs you have—declines with age. And that decline accelerates in your mid-to-late thirties.
At 30, your chance of conceiving each month is about 20%. At 40, it’s about 5%. At 43, it’s less than 2%.
Those aren’t numbers meant to scare you. They’re just biology.
And the challenge is that by the time you realize conceiving is harder than you expected, you’ve lost time you can’t get back.
I’m not saying you should panic or rush major life decisions. I’m saying that if having children is something you want, fertility should be part of your timeline planning—not an afterthought.
If you’re in your mid-thirties or older and thinking “maybe in a few years,” consider:
• Getting your fertility tested now (AMH, FSH, antral follicle count—simple blood tests and an
ultrasound)
• Talking to a reproductive endocrinologist about your timeline and options
• Considering egg freezing if you’re not ready now but want to preserve options
• Having honest conversations with your partner about timing
The hardest part of my job is telling someone who wants children that we’re starting from a very difficult position—because they waited, not knowing they were waiting too long.
I never want to have that conversation when we could have had a different one five years earlier.
Your career isn’t too demanding to think about fertility. Your relationship isn’t too new. You’re not too young to ask questions.
If having children is part of your life plan, make fertility part of your timeline. Not someday—now, while you have more options.
If you’re wondering where you stand, call us. A fertility assessment takes about an hour and gives you actual information instead of assumptions.
You can’t stop time, but you can make informed decisions about it.
—Sarah Patel, MD
Patel Fertility Center
(512) 555-0187
appointments@patelfertility.com
P.S. If you’re reading this and thinking “I should have done this five years ago,” don’t spiral. Come in and let’s see where you actually are. We work with women at every age and stage, and there are more options than you might think.
This is what you get twice a month.
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