When To Seek Pregnancy Help?

A variety of life events are considered milestones. For example, graduating, getting that first post-college job, getting engaged, and getting married are all major moments in a person’s life. Pregnancy is another significant life stage that is very memorable. Whether starting or expanding a family, most individuals celebrate getting a big fat positive test result. Some people may find that getting pregnant isn’t as easy as expected. When a few months of trying stretches out to a significantly longer period, consider speaking to a fertility specialist to understand what might be causing the delay.

Average pregnancy timelines

A variety of factors can influence how quickly pregnancy occurs. Assuming that no pre-existing health concerns exist or reproductive issues are present, women and couples ages 35 or younger should be able to conceive within 3 months of active trying. Beyond age 35, timelines get longer. Conception ranges shift from 6 months to possibly a year, depending on actual age. Although women are often cautioned about pregnancy later in life, age also influences male fertility. An older man will also feel the impacts of time via sperm quality degradation.

Trying to conceive naturally?

As more women delay pregnancy, questions about the viability of natural conception later in life are normal. Getting pregnant after 35 without interventions is still possible, but people need to understand how age influences success rates. Research shows that fertility does decline, but not as severely as pop culture implies. The real data shows that success rates do decline, but only about 10-15% per cycle. Fertility specialists will usually recommend attempting 6 months of consistent trying before seeing a specialist unless underlying conditions are present. For example, known diagnoses like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), erectile dysfunction, or a history of pregnancy complications would trigger getting help sooner.

When to ask the experts

The main threshold for consulting with fertility specialists is when consistently trying to conceive doesn’t result in a pregnancy. Another factor is if pregnancy occurs but recurrent miscarriages happen. Another reason to consider a consultation is if a woman struggles to track ovulation accurately. Inconsistent periods or even hormonal conditions like PCOS can make pinpointing ovulation very difficult and delay pregnancy. Multiple fertility treatments can be considered, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) being one of the most popular.

If male infertility is present

Pop culture often pushed the idea that infertility is just a woman’s issue. Male infertility is the sole factor in roughly a third of all infertility cases in the US. Common issues include poor sperm quality and quantity. Specific diagnoses are often poor motility, DNA abnormalities, and deformities that can delay conception. Sometimes pregnancy won’t occur at all, or additional issues such as failed implantation or early miscarriage might occur.

Be proactive with fertility

A fertility specialist can’t guarantee a woman or couple will get pregnant since so many factors can influence conception odds. Still, these experts can identify underlying causes, recommend workaround solutions, and give women and couples the information needed to make informed decisions.