Home › Journal › How long to try before seeing a doctor
Fertility journal · reviewed by a doctor
When to See a Fertility Doctor: How Long to Try
See a fertility doctor after 12 months of trying if she is under 35, after 6 months if she is 35 or over, and straight away at 40 or with irregular periods, endometriosis, PCOS, past pelvic surgery or a known sperm problem. At Jananam Fertility Centre, Chennai, both partners are checked in the first round.
Key takeaways
- Under 35 with regular periods, see a fertility doctor after 12 months of trying.
- At 35 or over, go after 6 months; at 40 or over, go straight away.
- Irregular periods, endometriosis, PCOS, past pelvic surgery, two or more miscarriages or a known sperm problem mean go now, whatever your age.
- A male factor is part of the reason in about half of couples, so he is tested at the first visit, not months later.
When to call us
- She is under 35 and you have been trying for 12 months.
- She is 35 or over and you have been trying for 6 months, or she is 40 or over.
- Periods are irregular, very far apart or have stopped.
- There is known endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, past pelvic surgery or infection, or two or more miscarriages.
- A semen analysis has come back abnormal, or either of you has had cancer treatment.
Questions couples ask
How long should we try before seeking help?
Under 35 with regular cycles and no known risk factors, about twelve months is reasonable. Between 35 and 39, roughly six months. At 40 and over, we would advise assessment straight away rather than waiting for an interval to pass.
When should we come in sooner?
Where cycles are irregular or absent, or there is known endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, previous pelvic surgery or infection, a history of recurrent miscarriage, or an abnormal semen analysis. These warrant assessment without waiting.
Does consulting early commit us to treatment?
No. Consulting early is not a commitment to treatment. In many cases the evaluation is reassuring, and where it is not, starting earlier preserves more options than waiting does.
Should my partner be assessed at the same time?
Yes. Male factor contributes to a substantial proportion of cases, and a semen analysis is quick and straightforward. Assessing one partner alone risks spending months investigating the wrong side.
What happens at a first fertility consultation?
A history from both partners, an examination, and a plan for baseline tests: ovulation assessment, ovarian reserve, imaging of the uterus and tubes, and a semen analysis. The aim is to establish what is happening before discussing treatment.
Is it too late at 40?
No, but time matters more. Ovarian reserve and egg quality decline, so the sequence of investigation and treatment is usually compressed, and options such as IVF may be discussed earlier than they would be for a younger couple.
What happens at the first appointment?
A history from both partners, an examination, and a plan for baseline tests covering ovulation, ovarian reserve, imaging of the uterus and tubes, and a semen analysis.
Should my partner come to the first appointment?
Where possible, yes. Male factor is common, decisions affect both of you, and hearing the explanation directly avoids one partner having to relay complex information.
What if the assessment finds nothing wrong?
That is a common and genuinely useful outcome. It rules out the causes that testing can detect, and it establishes a baseline against which anything later can be compared. It also means the conversation turns to age and duration rather than to a specific problem, and those determine whether to continue trying or to consider treatment.
Is there any harm in being assessed too early?
No. The tests are straightforward and the information does not expire quickly. The more common problem is the opposite: waiting a full year out of habit when age or an irregular cycle meant earlier review was appropriate. Assessment establishes a baseline and closes off nothing.
Not the question you had?
The questions people don't ask with their partner sitting beside them, answered by Dr Vani Sundarapandian.
Reviewed by
Dr Vani Sundarapandian
MD, DGO, FRCOG (UK) · Founder, Jananam Fertility Centre
Reviewed by Dr Vani Sundarapandian, MD, DGO, FRCOG (UK), 20 years exclusively in reproductive medicine. The month below is when she last read it.
Your first consultation
What the first visit covers for both of you, what to bring, and what happens after.
We test him first
Why the semen analysis is in the first round, not after months of her tests.
Is there a right age to get pregnant?
What age changes, what it doesn't, and what a simple test can tell you now.
How Natural Conception Works, Step by Step
Natural conception needs four things each month: an egg released at ovulation, healthy sperm, an open fallopian tube where they meet, and a lining ready for the embryo about a week later.
Fertility After IUD Removal: When Ovulation Returns
Fertility returns as soon as an IUD is removed, copper or hormonal (NHS).
Short Luteal Phase: Causes and Treatment Options
A short luteal phase is 10 days or less between ovulation and your next period.
Been trying a while? Let's check both of you.
Tell us how long you have been trying and her age. Janvi, Jananam's companion for fertility treatment, replies straight away.