When do I visit a fertility specialist?
- After trying to conceive for a period of 12 months without successful outcomes
- 6 months, if female partner is above the age of 35 years
- 3 to 4 months if female partner is above the age of 40 years
- If the female partner has a known history of health issues such as irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, previous tubal pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), etc.
Fertility advice
A common misconception about getting pregnant is that couples need to engage in intercourse on a daily basis. Though having sex on a daily basis does not reduce one’s fertility, the highest chances of getting pregnant occur when sex is performed around the time of ovulation.
Ovulation occurs between the 14th – 16th day of the female menstrual cycle. The egg released during this period has a life of about 12 – 24 hours. The male sperm, once deposited in the uterus, remains active for a period of 2 – 5 days.
Common causes of infertility
What causes infertility? The most common causes are:
- Ovulation problems
- Tubal infertility
- Quality of male sperm
- Age related issues
- Quality of female egg
- Uterine problems