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Maternal (Expert Forum)
How long should you try before getting worried?
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
How long should you try before getting worried?
by Margie__0, Jan 22, 1999 12:00AM
How long should you try to conceive before considering fertility treatments? My husband & I have been trying for about 4 months with no luck yet. I was on the pill so I know it may take a while before I start ovulating regularly.
I have seen some doctors say to wait for 2 years before going to a fertility specialist but I am a bit concerned because of my age. I'm 35 and I know that the older I get the harder it will be on me and the baby so I would rather do it now as opposed to later.
Please help, thanks.
Dear Margie:
When 100 couples set out to become pregnant, it takes 1 year for 75 to 80% to conceive and 24 months for 95 to conceive. Hence, infertility is ususally defined as a couple who have not conceived after 6 months of frequent, unprotected intercourse.
There is inefficiency of conception as the lady ages: 25 year olds conceive faster than 35 year olds. Hence, there is a catch 22: how quickly to move forward because of age vs giving the mature woman the extra time she may need. Each physician has their own approach. My answer is that the 35 year old couple have a well-person assessment after 6 months (history, well person examination). Determine ovulation by a basal body temperature record or urine ovulation kit and assure normal male factor by semen analysis. If there is any suspicious history in the wife (past abdominal surgery or infection), evaluate tubal patency. If ovulation and male are normal with no history of clinical features to suggest a problem, wait until the one year mark to go forward with the tube, luteal phase, laparoscopy testing and empiric fertility drug therapies.
Keywrods: infertility, age 35,
This information is provided for education purposes and is not amedical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your physician.
