CLEVELAND -- More and more couples are waiting until their 30s and 40s to start families.

But they may be waiting too long. NewsChannel5 reported that when it comes to getting pregnant, age really does matter.

Pregnancy seems to happen easily for many women. But for those who experience fertility problems, getting pregnant can take years.

"My husband and I tried to get pregnant when I was 32, and it took us five years to actually have our daughter," said Ellen Bender, a fertility patient. "And we, at the beginning, had no idea that we would have trouble."

Bender's story is all too common. One out of every 10 couples is infertile -- a fact that many women don't realize.

"This shows us that we really need to renew our efforts to educate women about the probability of infertility," Dr. Richard Scott said. "And, in fact, make certain that they understand that if they've been trying to conceive for a year without being successful, it's time to see their doctor."

A woman's age is the biggest factor in trying to get pregnant.

Fertility starts to decline at age 27 -- long before many women even consider starting a family.

"Mother Nature is not a feminist," said Pamela Madsen of the American Infertility Association. "Unfortunately, Mother Nature has not kept up with the times and still wants women to have babies in their 20s and 30s. You have to be aware that you have a finite amount of time in which to have a biological child."

The good news is that modern medicine gives some hope to those who have difficulty conceiving.

After undergoing fertility treatments, Bender and her husband are now the proud parents of Maddie Olivia, with another child on the way.

"In some respects, having gone through what we went through to get pregnant makes every moment that I spend with my daughter more precious," she said.

Getting that bundle of joy won't come cheap, and results aren't guaranteed.

Costs can range from $1,000 per cycle for low-tech treatments to $15,000 per cycle for in vitro fertilization. Most insurance companies do not cover the procedures, NewsChannel5 reported.