Fertility trends in the United Kingdom demonstrate both stability and change. Overall, the birth rate has changed less over recent decades than has the timing of those births, which are occurring much later. In a new study, Máire Ní Bhrolcháin, Éva Beaujouan, and Ann Berrington explain how this trend of postponing starting a family can be better understood by examining women's fertility intentions. The authors draw from the responses of women in the United Kingdom’s General Household Survey (GHS) over the period 1991-2007.

People stop having children earlier than their biological clocks warrant. One of the reasons for the discrepancy between potential and achieved childbearing after age 40 could be social stigma. A study by Francesco C. Billari, Alice Goisis, Art C. Liefbroer, Richard A. Settersten, Arnstein Aassve, Gunhild Hagestad, and Zsolt Spéder documents the existence of social age deadlines for childbearing across Europe. At what age would you say a woman or man is generally too old to consider having any more children?