JOURNAL · TRYING TO CONCEIVE
We've been trying for months. When should we see someone?
Trying for a baby can take time even when nothing is wrong. Here is how long is normal, what is worth tracking, and when it is time for both of you to get checked.
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How long should we try before seeing a doctor?
A year is the usual answer. Here is when it is sooner, and why you both go.
Is there a right age to get pregnant, and what if we are past it?
What age changes, what it doesn't, and what a simple test can tell you now.
HOW IT WORKSWhat actually has to happen each month
An egg, sperm, an open tube and a ready lining. Why it takes time even when all four are fine.
Is a short second half of my cycle a problem?
What a short luteal phase is, how it is measured, and when it is worth a blood test.
TRACKING AND TESTINGApps, kits and discharge: which ones you can trust
Five ways to spot ovulation, what each one actually tells you, and which to stop paying for.
When does fertility come back after an IUD?
Usually quickly. What to expect in the first cycles and when a delay needs a look.
When to test when your periods are irregular
No due date to count from? How to time a test so you don't test too early, again.
Your first consultation
What the first visit covers for both of you, what to bring, and what happens after.
Irregular periods and ovulation
Irregular periods usually mean irregular ovulation, and that is usually treatable.
Semen analysis
His test, done in the first round, not after months of hers.
AMH test
An estimate of egg numbers. Useful when age or time is a worry.
Hormone tests
Which blood tests on which cycle day, and what each one changes.
Unexplained infertility
When every standard test is normal and you are still waiting.
Questions couples ask first.
Still unsure? Ask us on WhatsApp — a real person replies.
How long should we try before seeing a fertility doctor?
Try for 12 months of regular unprotected sex, or 6 months if she is 35 or over, before seeing a doctor. Go sooner if periods are irregular or either of you has a known problem.
Should we see a doctor sooner if my periods are irregular?
Yes, don't wait a year if your periods are irregular. Irregular periods usually mean you are not ovulating every month, which is usually treatable with tablets and scans.
Does my husband need to be tested if I'm the one seeing the doctor?
Yes. A male factor is part of the reason in about half of couples who struggle to conceive, and a semen analysis is simple, so we do it in the first round.
When should I take a pregnancy test?
A home test is most reliable from the day your period is due. If your periods are irregular that day is hard to know, so time the test from when you last had sex instead.
Not sure if it's time? Ask us.
Tell us how long you've been trying and her age. We'll tell you honestly if it's time to get checked, and what the first visit involves for both of you.