How Long Should You Try to Conceive Before Seeing a Doctor?

It may feel like a bit of a strange or uncomfortable question: how long should you try to conceive before consulting a doctor? After all, infertility issues are rarely discussed openly — even among family and friends, so there is no commonly-known answer.

The first, most important thing to know is that if you aren’t getting pregnant as quickly as you hoped, you are not alone. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 8, or 12%, of American females ages 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant.

Whether you’ve been trying to conceive for some time and you’re wondering how long is too long or you simply want a general timeline, you’re in the right place. Here, the specialists at Viera Fertility in Melbourne, Florida answer all your questions about how long you should wait before seeing a fertility specialist if you’ve been trying to become pregnant.

How Long You Should Try to Conceive Before Seeing a Doctor

According to an article in Parents, it takes most couples four to six months to get pregnant . Somewhere between 85-95% are pregnant within one year. If you’ve been actively trying for a year, having frequent unprotected sex, and you still haven’t conceived, infertility is a possibility. Of course, remember that a number of factors have to align exactly right in order to successfully become pregnant — even in the best of circumstances. No two couples’ journeys are alike.

There are some general guidelines you can follow. If you’re under 35, healthy overall, and have actively been trying to conceive for a year or more unsuccessfully, you should make an appointment with a fertility doctor. Women older than 35 should seek the advice of a doctor or fertility clinic after six months of trying.

Other health issues or concerns, including a family history of certain conditions, may warrant scheduling an appointment with a fertility doctor even sooner. In the Parents article, Director of Reproductive Medicine at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science in New Jersey, Dr. Serena H. Chen explains that women with “a serious medical illness, previous abdominal or pelvic surgery, a personal or family history of PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome], endometriosis, or premature ovarian failure” may wish to seek help right away.

Finally, women who experience repeated miscarriages should also schedule an appointment with a fertility doctor as soon as possible. While miscarriages are common, repeated miscarriages (defined as two or more in a row) aren’t. This could indicate a medical issue. Some issues may prevent your body from successfully carrying a pregnancy. This is true even if you have no trouble at all actually becoming pregnant.

Improve Your Chances of Becoming Pregnant

Perhaps you’re well past the one-year mark of trying to get pregnant. Maybe you just simply want to be proactive before you even begin to approach it. Regardless, there are several totally safe, natural things you can do to up your chances of conceiving naturally.

Improve Your Diet

One of the first things you should do when trying to conceive is to overhaul your diet. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, ditch refined sugars, avoid fad and extreme diets, and make sure you stay hydrated.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise has a long list of general health benefits and it is no different when it comes to getting pregnant. When you’re trying to conceive, the key is to focus on gentle movements that increase both strength and endurance. Consider yoga, swimming, and indoor cycling.

Prioritize Sleep

Like most people today, you likely have a busy lifestyle. Thus, getting a solid eight hours of sleep may seem near impossible. However, sleep is a critical aspect of general health and is closely linked to fertility. Women who get less than seven hours a night are up to 15% less likely to get pregnant. So, it is important to prioritize getting some shut-eye.

Contact Viera Fertility Center

If you’ve been trying to conceive for some time without success or have other concerns about infertility, we encourage you to contact Viera Fertility Clinic. Our specialists will help you determine whether there is a fertility issue and what the next steps are. We look forward to meeting you.