Our Health Library information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Please be advised that this information is made available to assist our patients to learn more about their health. Our providers may not see and/or treat all topics found herein. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them. Get the Compare Your Your Quiz Your Summary You may be infertile if you have not been able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year (or 6 months if you're over 35). A woman's fertility slowly drops from her mid-30s into her 40s because of the natural aging of the egg supply. A man's fertility is not affected as much by age. Defining infertility is a personal issue. It can depend on your age and how much time you choose to spend trying to get pregnant without medical help. Most cases of infertility are caused by a problem with the reproductive system. This can include: It can be stressful to find out the reason for infertility. Knowing where the problem is may create feelings of guilt and blame and may put strain on your relationship. Not being able to find any cause can also create stress. You may want to talk with a counselor or join an infertility support group before you make your decision. Talking with other people can help you feel less alone. Tests for infertility can range from a simple blood test to surgery. Based on your test results, your doctor can help you decide about your next testing or treatment option. Take some time to think about what you have learned from each test and what you want to do next. For example, if your first test results are normal and no clear reason is found for your fertility problem, you may: Tests can't always find the cause of infertility. And not all infertility problems can be treated. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may suggest treatment, such as: Before you decide about testing, think about: Testing and treatment can be costly, stressful, and sometimes painful. Before starting, talk about how much testing you are willing to do and for how long. You may decide to have the basic tests only and to stop when you have enough information. Or instead of advanced testing and treatment, you may decide to keep trying to get pregnant on your own or to adopt a child. Your decision will be based on your health, age, goals, and values. Your doctor might advise you to have infertility testing if: Compare What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I've been trying now for about 5 or 6 months and still haven't gotten pregnant. But I'm not sure that I've been having sex at the right time of the month, so I got some information about how to calculate the fertile time. I'm going to see if working on the timing for a few months helps. Lynn, age 33 I didn't have any trouble getting pregnant with my first child. But my second husband and I have been trying to have a baby for about a year now, and I still haven't gotten pregnant. Since he doesn't have any children of his own, we can't be sure which one of us may have a problem. We have been having sex at the right times. We agree that it's time to find out whether there may be a problem. Rosa, age 32 I'm 35 and my partner is 38. We have been trying for 6 months, and it doesn't seem to be happening. We decided to see a doctor to talk about the next step. Carol, age 35, and Dave, age 38 We've been trying to conceive for 10 months now. But since we are both still young, we aren't too worried yet. My spouse is going to try tracking each menstrual cycle to see if that helps before we take the next step. If that doesn't help, I'll consider having my sperm checked. James, age 27, and Sabra, age 26 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have infertility testing Reasons not to have infertility testing Having a biological child is very important to me. Having a biological child is not that important to me. I'm not worried about the cost of infertility testing. I'm worried about the cost of testing. I think I can handle the stress of testing. I'm not sure that I can handle the stress of testing. I accept that testing may not be able to find a problem or treat it if one is found. I don't want to have a lot of tests that may not find my problem or treat it. I know that having these tests means talking with doctors about our sex life. I'm not comfortable talking about our sex life. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having infertility testing NOT having infertility testing Check the facts Decide what's next Certainty 1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. You may be infertile if you have not been able to get pregnant after trying for at least 1 year (or 6 months if you're over 35). A woman's fertility slowly drops from her mid-30s into her 40s because of the natural aging of the egg supply. A man's fertility is not affected as much by age. Defining infertility is a personal issue. It can depend on your age and how much time you choose to spend trying to get pregnant without medical help. Most cases of infertility are caused by a problem with the reproductive system. This can include: It can be stressful to find out the reason for infertility. Knowing where the problem is may create feelings of guilt and blame and may put strain on your relationship. Not being able to find any cause can also create stress. You may want to talk with a counselor or join an infertility support group before you make your decision. Talking with other people can help you feel less alone. Tests for infertility can range from a simple blood test to surgery. Based on your test results, your doctor can help you decide about your next testing or treatment option. Take some time to think about what you have learned from each test and what you want to do next. For example, if your first test results are normal and no clear reason is found for your fertility problem, you may: Tests can't always find the cause of infertility. And not all infertility problems can be treated. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may suggest treatment, such as: Before you decide about testing, think about: Testing and treatment can be costly, stressful, and sometimes painful. Before starting, talk about how much testing you are willing to do and for how long. You may decide to have the basic tests only and to stop when you have enough information. Or instead of advanced testing and treatment, you may decide to keep trying to get pregnant on your own or to adopt a child. Your decision will be based on your health, age, goals, and values. Your doctor might advise you to have infertility testing if: These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. "I've been trying now for about 5 or 6 months and still haven't gotten pregnant. But I'm not sure that I've been having sex at the right time of the month, so I got some information about how to calculate the fertile time. I'm going to see if working on the timing for a few months helps." — Lynn, age 33 "I didn't have any trouble getting pregnant with my first child. But my second husband and I have been trying to have a baby for about a year now, and I still haven't gotten pregnant. Since he doesn't have any children of his own, we can't be sure which one of us may have a problem. We have been having sex at the right times. We agree that it's time to find out whether there may be a problem." — Rosa, age 32 "I'm 35 and my partner is 38. We have been trying for 6 months, and it doesn't seem to be happening. We decided to see a doctor to talk about the next step." — Carol, age 35, and Dave, age 38 "We've been trying to conceive for 10 months now. But since we are both still young, we aren't too worried yet. My spouse is going to try tracking each menstrual cycle to see if that helps before we take the next step. If that doesn't help, I'll consider having my sperm checked." — James, age 27, and Sabra, age 26 Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Reasons to have infertility testing Reasons not to have infertility testing Having a biological child is very important to me. Having a biological child is not that important to me. I'm not worried about the cost of infertility testing. I'm worried about the cost of testing. I think I can handle the stress of testing. I'm not sure that I can handle the stress of testing. I accept that testing may not be able to find a problem or treat it if one is found. I don't want to have a lot of tests that may not find my problem or treat it. I know that having these tests means talking with doctors about our sex life. I'm not comfortable talking about our sex life. My other important reasons: My other important reasons: Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. Having infertility testing NOT having infertility testing 1.
If you are younger than 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for 4 months, is it time to think about an infertility test? 2.
Can testing always help you find out the cause of any infertility problem? 3.
Can some tests find and treat an infertility problem? 1.
Do you understand the options available to you? 2.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? 3.
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? 1.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? 2.
Check what you need to do before you make this decision. Current as of: November 27, 2023 Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review BoardFertility Problems: Should I Be Tested?
Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested?
1
Facts2
Options3
Feelings4
Decision5
Yourself6
Get the facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is infertility?
What kinds of problems lead to infertility?
What types of tests are done?
How can you use the test results?
What else do you need to know about testing?
Why might your doctor recommend infertility testing?
Compare your options
Personal stories about infertility testing
What matters most to you?
Where are you leaning now?
What else do you need to make your decision?
Your Summary
Your decision
Next steps
Which way you're leaning
How sure you are
Your comments
Your knowledge of the facts
Key concepts that you understood
Key concepts that may need review
Getting ready to act
Patient choices
Credits
Author Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested?
1. Get the Facts
Your options
Key points to remember
What is infertility?
What kinds of problems lead to infertility?
What types of tests are done?
How can you use the test results?
What else do you need to know about testing?
Why might your doctor recommend infertility testing?
2. Compare your options
Have infertility testing Don't have infertility testing What is usually involved? What are the benefits? What are the risks and side effects? Personal stories
Personal stories about infertility testing
3. What matters most to you?
4. Where are you leaning now?
5. What else do you need to make your decision?
Check the facts
Decide what's next
Certainty
By Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Note: The "printer friendly" document will not contain all the information available in the online document some Information (e.g. cross-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
FAQs
Have infertility testing Have infertility testing
Don't have infertility testing Don't have infertility testing
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Credits
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
FAQs
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Equally important
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You're right. If you're younger than 35 and trying to get pregnant, doctors suggest trying well-timed sex for at least 1 year before thinking about testing.
You're right. Tests can't always find the cause of infertility. And not all infertility problems can be treated.
You're right. Infertility tests may find what is causing the problem. Sometimes you can be treated during the test.
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Somewhat sure
Very sure
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