Health Information
Fertility Problems
When To Call a Doctor
Consult with your doctor if you:
- Want children but have been unable to become pregnant after 1 year of having sex without using birth control.
- Are a woman older than 35 who has been unable to become pregnant after about 6 months of sex without using birth control.
- Have had three or more Reference miscarriages Opens New Window in a row.
Watchful waiting
Before seeking medical help with conception, you can increase your chances of becoming pregnant by practicing Reference fertility awareness. This means charting your Reference basal body temperature Opens New Window and using home tests to let you know when you are likely to ovulate and be fertile. For more information, see Reference Home Treatment.
Who to see
For initial fertility questions and testing, you can see:
- A Reference family medicine doctor Opens New Window.
- An Reference internist Opens New Window.
- A Reference nurse practitioner Opens New Window.
For complete fertility testing, see an Reference obstetrician/gynecologist Opens New Window with special training and experience in fertility problems. This doctor may be called a Reference reproductive endocrinologist Opens New Window or fertility specialist. When looking for a specialist, ask what percentage of a doctor's practice is fertility treatment. Also ask if he or she has training in reproductive endocrinology.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
