Struggling to Conceive: When to See a Doctor?

If you’re struggling to conceive, you may be worried about infertility. It can take up to a year for healthy couples to conceive naturally, but what if you’re not healthy? Should you see a doctor before then?

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There are a few times that you should talk to a doctor if it has been less than a year. However, as a couple trying to conceive, you should book a pre-pregnancy checkup. Your doctor will be able to go through things you can do to improve your chances of conception.

If you’ve had that and are still struggling to conceive, here are times that you will want to see a doctor.

Due to a Medical Reason

You may have a medical reason for not being able to conceive naturally or quickly. This could be if you have diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. It is also important to talk to your doctor if you suffer from depression and take medication for it. Your doctor will want to monitor your baby considering the medication.

If you fall into the bracket of a medical problem, you should really see a doctor before you start trying to conceive.

Over 35 Years Old

As you get older, your fertility decreases. From around the age of 35, you are less likely to conceive because of various factors. It is important to see a doctor if you have been struggling to conceive for the last six months.

If you are under 35 and there are no other problems, then there is no need to see a doctor before the year mark.

Previous Pregnancy Issues

It is worth talking to your doctor before trying to conceive if there have been previous issues with getting pregnant. You may have suffered complications during your previous pregnancy. Whatever the problem, it is worth talking to your doctor to make sure this will not affect your fertility in the future.

Weight Problems and Lifestyle Choices

If you’re under or overweight or you smoke or do drugs, it is worth seeing your doctor after six months of struggling to conceive. Your doctor will be able to check that these lifestyle choices or health problems are not affecting your fertility.

Other reasons include if you’ve had a STD, suffer from ovarian cysts (and other similar issues) or if you have irregular periods. All of these can make it harder to get pregnant.

Don’t stress about it too much. The stress will actually make it harder to get pregnant. If you are struggling to conceive, think about your circumstances and decide whether you should see a doctor now or wait for a while.