# Ladies, when did your biological clock start ticking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698 "2010-11-15T02:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/1 "2010-11-15T02:49:27Z")
I’m 26 and right now don’t see myself having kids, ever. I’m wondering if this is a sign that it’s not meant to be, or if I just need to wait a little bit before I the desire to procreate might surface. I would love to know when the urge to have kids hit y’all, and if it was a, “I always knew I wanted kids” or if you weren’t really interested until one day you woke up and babies were on the brain. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/2 "2010-11-15T02:54:46Z")
I’m 31 and it still hasn’t kicked in. In fact, seeing my friends (pretty much ALL my friends) have kids has solidified the idea in my mind - I don’t want kids. Not even holding my little baby niece made my clock even tick a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/3 "2010-11-15T03:04:07Z")
Never really wanted kids until I was almost 30. Then it was like a switch flipped on. It’s hard work being a parent, both physically and emotionally. Don’t feel defective for not wanting to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/4 "2010-11-15T03:06:08Z")
44 at the end of this month - never. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/5 "2010-11-15T03:24:50Z")
As soon as I realized that I could, hypothetically, have children at some point in my life, I knew I wanted them. It wasn’t until I was in my mid 30s and started to realize that my health problems, inability to make and keep a fiscal plan of any sort, and lack of any long term relationship meant that not only was I unlikely to have any children, but it would be better for all concerned if I didn’t. I still want them. Biological children, step-children, adopted children, foster children . . . any would do. I refuse to pursue the possibility unless I have the rest of my life and my health straightened out, which I doubt will happen. But I still want them. I expect menopause will be pretty rough. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/6 "2010-11-15T03:27:53Z")
I already have two girls, 21 and 5, but recently I started feeling the urge to have another. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/7 "2010-11-15T03:28:03Z")
Just happened at 29. I went from being totally indifferent about having kids to thinking about the idea a lot. Happened practically overnight. Utterly bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/8 "2010-11-15T03:31:22Z")
It never really happened to me. When I got to be about 36, my husband and I were like, “we’d better start thinking about this kid thing.” So, we went ahead and had a couple, and am I ever glad we did. The only times I ever got to thinking about having kids at that kind of hormonal level was when each kid turned about 18 months old, and I started wanting to have a baby to hold again. ---
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/9 "2010-11-15T03:38:47Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > n, step-children, adopted children, foster children . . . any would do. I refuse to pursue the possibility unless I have the rest of my life and my health straightened out, which I doubt will happen. But I still want them. > > I expect menopause will be pretty rough. **phouka** , reading this made me sad :(. I really applaud your thorough analysis of your child-rearing abilities, and I hope things work out for you so that you can be a mom. > [@Sarahfeena](#): > > It never really happened to me. When I got to be about 36, my husband and I were like, “we’d better start thinking about this kid thing.” So, we went ahead and had a couple, and am I ever glad we did. The only times I ever got to thinking about having kids at that kind of hormonal level was when each kid turned about 18 months old, and I started wanting to have a baby to hold again. I hope this isn’t too personal, **Sarahfeena** , but was it difficult to conceive in your late 30s? I was glad to read your story because it made me realize that I have a while before the door closes, but I’ve heard that after 35 getting pregnant can be really difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/10 "2010-11-15T03:39:30Z")
I’m 40, and it hasn’t started. I figured out in my young teen years that I definitely didn’t want kids, and the clock hasn’t started up. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/11 "2010-11-15T03:51:11Z")
I became unintentionally pregnant at 24, and had a beautiful, healthy daughter. Then, when she was 3, and I was about 28, it (the biological clock) started ticking _loudly_. I went to my husband, armed with all the reasons I thought we should think about having another baby. I said “Honey, I think we should maybe have another baby” and he said “OK”. I said “Wait! You haven’t heard my reasons yet!” 😉 A year later, our second daughter was born. Also beautiful, also healthy. Personally (from a perspective of not knowing what I do now), I’d have been perfectly satisfied to stop there. Finally, when our middle daughter was 6, my hubby said “We could try one more time for a boy, couldn’t we?” That’s how we ended up with **mudgirl** , born when I was 38. Obviously not the boy he’d hoped for! But much more like him than either of the other two. . .and boy does she keep my life interesting! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/12 "2010-11-15T03:53:39Z")
I’m 55 and it never did. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/13 "2010-11-15T04:00:17Z")
I’d have a blip here and there when I was in my 30s and it always seemed to arrive right before I had my period. Haven’t had a blip since my early 40s, never had any maternal urge when I was in my 20s. My mindset: If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It never did. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/14 "2010-11-15T04:01:41Z")
I’m 53, never wanted kids. I got pregnant DESPITE using contraceptive foam and condoms when I was 21 (and a couple of other times, on other methods). I’d been pregnant before, and miscarried, and it just about killed my husband. So I tried very hard to stay pregnant. When she was born, I didn’t love her at first, it took me a couple of days, and I did breastfeed, which I think helped. But if I could go back in time…I’d really prefer to never have had a child. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/15 "2010-11-15T04:05:59Z")
I spent my entire 20s sure that I didn’t want kids. The year I turned 30, though…Like **Even** said, it just went from “nah” to “wait, I think I do want some kids after all” almost all at once. Now that I’m almost 33 and still single, I wish I’d figured it out five years sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/16 "2010-11-15T04:41:01Z")
I was about 25-26, and it happened really suddenly. Before that, I hadn’t thought about kids that much, and didn’t care if I was going to have any or not, maybe someday. Then I suddenly just started wanting one. For weeks/months every baby I saw looked totally adorable and like the most gorgeous thing ever. I talked to my partner and he was agreeable, so we had one. I wanted a second, and a third (which we didn’t have) and I still like babies and think they are cute, but nothing like how clucky I was in my 20s. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/17 "2010-11-15T05:10:28Z")
I’m 46 and it never did. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/18 "2010-11-15T05:20:54Z")
Yeah, all through my 20s, I had no desire. To the point that I never even thought about it and figured that well, I’d make an awesomely absent mother what with work etc. Then, I turned 30, met the SO, and two weeks after we’d started dating, he asked whether I’d thought about kids names etc. Now, the biological clock is clicking loudly, and I really want kids. Soon. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/19 "2010-11-15T05:50:24Z")
I turned 44 in July, and have never wanted my own children. Every so often, I get a twinge of “maybe I should procreate?” Then I spend time with my friends’ kids (who I adore), and that cures the twinge. I love playing aunt, but am far too selfish and impatient to be a parent. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698/20 "2010-11-15T06:09:55Z")
I don’t know if I fit in with the rest of the respondents, because I really love children and have always fantasized about being a mother. Sometimes when I see other people with their kids, I get a little envious. HOWEVER, I have chosen a rather nomadic lifestyle that is not conducive to raising children (or even having a significant other), and I really don’t see it happening. I’m okay with it. I don’t know if my biological clock might yet kick in and I’ll REALLY WANT KIDS, but it seems unlikely to me. I can deal. I’m 32. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-when-did-your-biological-clock-start-ticking/560698.md?page=2)