Many couples these days, especially those who marry later in life, have everything planned out before they take the plunge: the house of their dreams, a decent savings account, a fairy tale wedding. Often, because they prefer to enjoy each other first and the bliss of married life, couples wait a while before they consider the prospect of having a baby.

But what happens when you’re prepared for it and the pregnancy just doesn’t happen?  When is it time to get expert opinion?  Here, we gather the top 4 indicators:

1.    Length of time you’ve tried – If you’re below 30 years old and you still aren’t pregnant after one year of active sexual intercourse, or if you are 30 years old and above and do not conceive within 6 months of trying, it’s time to see the doctor..  

2.    Age of the mother – women, unlike men, have a biological clock ticking away every second.  It means that conception becomes more difficult as we age. To illustrate, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine says that a healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20 percent probability each month of getting pregnant, but those statistics drop to about 5 percent by the time she reaches 40 years old.

3.    Medical history of the mother – A woman’s health condition greatly affects her ability to conceive.  An irregular cycle, amenorrhea (the absence of menstrual period), endometriosis, etc, are a few among many concerns that must be brought to the doctor's attention immediately.

4.    If the male partner has had mumps after puberty – Mumps are just one of the many causes by which a male can become infertile, and also one of the most common. These are caused by a certain type of virus. When a male contracts the virus after puberty or as an adult, swelling of the testicles may occur (known as “mumps orchitis”) and affect sperm production.

The possibility of infertility can be frightening and frustrating at the same time.  It may not be easy to finally decide to see your doctor, but raising your concerns with a licensed medical specialist is an important first step to addressing the matter.

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

SOURCES:
•    Tracy Morris. May 7, 2007. “When Trying Isn’t Enough: Seeking Help Getting Pregnant” RevolutionHealth.com
•    “Mumps Causes Male Infertility” WrongDiagnosis.com