Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse. For women over 35, the timeline is moved up to 6 months since fertility tends to declines after 35 for women.
Inability to conceive after a year is not the only reason to see a fertility specialist. Women tracking ovulation at home through basal body temperature and have noticed several anovulatory cycles may want to seek the help of a fertility specialist sooner. Also women with severe endometriosis may seek help sooner than a year. Also men who have had illnesses such as mumps, experienced severe trauma to the genitals, or are on meds for low testosterone may want to seek testing sooner than a year. Many treatments for cancer can also diminish fertility and may warrant a trip to the specialist before a year.
There are a few reasons why people without diminished fertility may want to see a fertility specialist. The most common is to avoid passing on a hereditary disease. If a couple has a family history of a genetic disease or are carriers for a disease, the couple may choose to pursue IVF to avoid passing on the disease. The embryos can be screened and only healthy disease free embryos transferred. A single woman may also seek the help of a specialist to conceive via sperm donor. Women may also seek the help of a specialist to preserve her fertility by freezing eggs for future use.
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