Fertility Problems

When To Call a Doctor

Consult with your doctor about infertility concerns if you:

• Want children but have been unable to become pregnant after 1 year of having sex without using birth control.
• Are a woman older than 35 who has been unable to become pregnant after about 6 months of sex without using birth control.
• Have had three or more miscarriages in a row.

Watchful Waiting

Before seeking medical help with conception, increase your chances of becoming pregnant by practicing fertility awareness. For more information, see the suggestions in the Home Treatment section of this topic.

Who To See

Your doctor can help you evaluate a possible fertility problem, provide some preliminary guidance, and discuss general testing and treatment options. You can also use this appointment to provide a sperm sample for evaluation, one of the first tests in a routine infertility workup. For this type of help, you can consult:

• A family medicine doctor.
• An internist.
• A nurse practitioner.

For complete infertility testing, see an obstetrician/gynecologist with specialized training and experience in infertility. This doctor may be called a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist. When looking for a specialist, ask what percentage of a doctor's practice is infertility treatment, and whether he or she has training in reproductive endocrinology.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment