Research from the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin has found the chances of women getting pregnant over the age of 40 drop rapidly.

A review of the Human Assisted Reproduction Clinic at the hospital shows women in the 43-45 age bracket have less than half the chance of getting pregnant than those aged 40-42.

The research, which covers a 16 year period, also found that those in their mid-40s who do get pregnant have a substantially higher risk of losing their baby than those in the younger group.

It comes as the proportion of women over 40 using the clinic's services has risen from 7% in 1997 to 20% in recent years.

Consultant at the Rotunda and report author is Dr Edgar Mocanu.

He says people need to be aware that fertility is a finite entity and should be prioritised to avoid difficulties.

"Any educational opportunities that are there should stress out that IVF in itself cannot fix a problem, and fertility should be high on everybody's agenda early in their career" he told Newstalk Breakfast.

"Mainly because it's a finite entity: one can have the power to earn or buy a house at any age, but in terms of fertility there's only a block of time when a woman can conceive" he added.