Is it true fertility falls sharply after 35? I'm 36 and worried.

Fertility declines gradually from the late 20s, more noticeably from the mid-to-late 30s, and faster after 40 — mainly because egg numbers and chromosomal quality fall. But the average is not your story: many women in their mid-to-late 30s conceive naturally or with help, and individual variation is large. Practical steps: don't wait a full year — see a doctor after about six months of trying (sooner if you have irregular cycles or known conditions). A basic assessment (scan, AMH, tubes, partner's semen analysis) tells you where you stand. AMH reflects egg *quantity*, not quality, and doesn't tell you your chance of natural conception on its own. If you're not ready yet, egg freezing is an option worth discussing.