Infertility means that you have not been able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year. It does not mean you will never get pregnant.
A woman’s chances of getting pregnant are higher when she is younger. A woman is most able to get pregnant (fertile) in her late 20s. Then, in her mid-30s, she becomes less fertile. This is because her eggs get older.
If you are younger than 35, you may want to give yourself more time to get pregnant. If you are 35 or older, you may want to start treatment.
It can help to learn more about when you have the best chance of getting pregnant. For most women, there are five days a month when they are most likely to get pregnant. This is the time when an egg is released. This is called ovulation.
Ovulation usually happens 12 to 16 days before your next period begins. You can figure out when you ovulate if you write down for a few months when you start and end your periods. Then you can count how many days are between the first day of your periods. This amount of time is called your cycle. The average cycle is 28 days. But some women have cycles that are a little shorter or longer.
After you know how long your cycle is, you can predict when your next period will start. And then, you can count backward from that day to know when you will ovulate next. Your doctor may also suggest a home ovulation test. This test can tell you when you are ovulating.
Infertility can be caused by a problem with the reproductive organs of a woman, a man, or both. Your doctor can help you find out what kind of problem you may have.
It’s important to talk about testing and treatment choices with your doctor. If you choose to do some tests, you will probably start with a hormone test. This is a test for both of you. And then the man will probably have a semen test.