When to See a Specialist

Infertility affects up to 1 in 6 people and can have many causes.

Because the age of the egg is the single most important factor in determining chances of pregnancy, it is recommended to see a fertility specialist if you are:  

  • Under 35 years old and have been trying to conceive for 12 months or more
  • 35 to 40 years old and have been trying to conceive for 6 months or more
  • Over 40 years old and have been trying to conceive for 3 months or more
Infertility affects 1 in 7 people.

In some cases, an earlier consultation with a fertility specialist is indicated. These can include: 

  • People with irregular or absent menstrual periods
  • Same sex couples or people pursuing single parenthood 
  • Couples who have experienced two or more miscarriages
  • Individuals or couples with known genetic diseases or with a family history of a particular disease (such as early onset breast cancer or Huntington’s disease) 
  • People with risk factors for tubal disease, such as a history of a sexually transmitted infection or a diagnosis of endometriosis  
  • People with a chronic medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes
  • People whose mother went through early menopause (40 years old or younger)