If you're under 35, the standard guidance is to try for about 12 months before seeing a fertility specialist. If you're 35 or older, that window shortens to 6 months — and if you're over 40, don't wait that long at all. If you have a known risk factor, it's worth seeing someone sooner than any of these timelines.
The standard timelines
- Under 35: around 12 months of regular, unprotected attempts before a fertility work-up is typically recommended
- 35 to 39: around 6 months, since egg quantity and quality decline faster in this range, and time matters more
- 40 or older: don't wait out the full 6-month window — book an evaluation early. Fertility declines more steeply past 40, so the time cost of waiting is higher than at any younger age.
- Known risk factor, any age: don't wait for the timeline — see a specialist sooner
Risk factors that mean seeing someone sooner
Regardless of age, these are reasons to bring the conversation forward rather than waiting out the standard window:
- Irregular or absent periods
- A known diagnosis like PCOS, endometriosis, or thyroid disease
- A history of pelvic infection, surgery, or a prior ectopic pregnancy
- A partner with a known fertility concern
- Two or more prior pregnancy losses
Why the timeline exists at all
These windows aren't random. They give natural conception a fair chance, without losing time if there is a treatable problem. Fertility naturally declines with age, more steeply after 35, so the "wait and see" period is deliberately shorter for that group. Under 35, most couples who are going to conceive naturally do so within a year, which is why that's the standard checkpoint rather than an earlier one.
The right time to ask for help is when the standard window has passed — or sooner, if something about your history already points to a reason not to wait.
Frequently asked
What does a first fertility consultation actually involve?
Usually a history of your cycle and any relevant health conditions, followed by basic tests — bloodwork, an ultrasound, and sometimes a semen analysis for your partner. It's a starting evaluation, not an immediate treatment.
Does "trying" mean tracking ovulation precisely, or just regular intercourse?
The standard guidance assumes regular, unprotected intercourse (commonly cited as every 2–3 days) without needing precise ovulation tracking — though tracking can help you notice if ovulation seems irregular, which is itself useful information to bring to a consultation.
I'm under 35 with no risk factors — is there any harm in waiting a bit past 12 months?
Waiting a little longer isn't dangerous, but there's little upside to delaying an evaluation once you've crossed the standard window — a consultation doesn't commit you to any treatment, and it tells you where you stand.
Should both partners be evaluated, or just the woman?
Both. Male factors contribute to roughly half of fertility challenges, so a complete evaluation includes both partners rather than starting with just one.
I'm over 40: should I see a specialist straight away?
Yes — don't wait out the full 6-month window that applies under 40. Fertility declines more steeply after 40, so booking an evaluation early preserves more options and more time to act on whatever it finds, even if you've only been trying for a short while.