Deciding to start a family is a big step, and for many couples, pregnancy happens fairly quickly. But when time passes and that all-important positive pregnancy test doesn’t happen, it’s natural to feel frustrated, worried, and even a little sad.
Lots of factors can influence conception, and knowing when it’s time to seek a fertility evaluation can help you feel more in control. In this post, Rafael J. Perez, MD, FACOG, and our team at Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida, offer a few quick tips that can help.
If you’re trying to get pregnant, having a friend who conceives without months of trying can be frustrating. But only about 15% to 25% of couples who are trying to conceive are successful in any given month. The other 75% to 85% require ongoing attempts before conception occurs.
Bottom line: Give yourself some time. For women under age 35, most fertility specialists recommend trying for 12 consecutive months before scheduling a fertility evaluation.
Although there’s nothing magical about 35, fertility does decline with age. Once you reach age 35, your chances of getting pregnant decline significantly, and your risk of pregnancy complications increases.
If you're 35 or older and you’ve been trying to conceive for at least six months without succeeding, you should schedule a visit with our team.
By the time you reach age 40, you have a 5% chance of getting pregnant during any single cycle. At this age, your risk of miscarriage increases, and egg quality also declines, meaning genetic disorders are also more common.
If you’re 40 or older, ideally you should schedule a visit with our team before getting pregnant, so we can help you set the stage for a successful conception and a healthy pregnancy.
Some medical conditions can make conception more problematic, too. For instance, gynecological issues like fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or endometriosis can all interfere with fertility, and sometimes pregnancy, too.
Unmanaged sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can also have an effect on fertility.
For men, medical issues that affect erectile function, ejaculation, or sperm quality can interfere with your ability to get pregnant. In fact, about half of infertility problems are due to male factor infertility — infertility issues affecting the male partner.
Successful conception depends on regular ovulation. If your periods are abnormal in any way, it could mean ovulation is abnormal, too. Hormonal imbalances could also be to blame.
If you have abnormal periods — irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, spotting between periods, or other unusual symptoms — schedule a visit right away so we can find out why.
Having a msicarriage can be devastating, but surprisingly, they’re not uncommon: As many as 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. While having multiple miscarriages doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant, it could mean there’s an underlying issue that we should address first.
Finally, it’s important to know that some types of cancer treatment — both radiation therapy and chemotherapy — can interfere with fertility. If you or your partner have had cancer treatment, we can help you find a solution.
Fertility issues can definitely be concerning, but having an evaluation with our team puts you back in control. To schedule your evaluation, request an appointment with Dr. Perez at Center for Urogynecology and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in South Miami, Florida, today.
