# How Long You Should Try for a Baby Before Seeing a Doctor - Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/wellbeing/fertility/long-try-baby-seeing-doctor/ - Published: 2012-04-28T05:42:59+10:00 - Author: Clare Whitfield ### How Long You Should Try for a Baby Before Seeing a Doctor > For couples who are planning to get pregnant, you should know there is no definite > time period when you can expect it to happen. The fact is it could take from anywhere > between a month or a year or even longer. The important thing is, at this point, > you are well informed about infertility. This way, you can always know when you > would need to consult a fertility doctor. Factors which could affect fertility: ### _**You Age�(Groan…..)**_ Unfortunately for women, the reproductive system has an expiration period of sorts. � Whilst men (the lucky buggers) can still get women pregnant until they are in their 80’s or even longer!� The older women are, the less fertile you become and the more difficult it is to get pregnant. For instance, at age 30, it is believed the chance of getting pregnant is reduced to 40 percent. And even if you do, there is always the risk of the pregnancy being difficult and complicated. It is no wonder the term “child-bearing” years have been coined.� Yes this totally sucks, but don’t fear, it just means that you will need to see a fertility specialist sooner than a couple that are in their 20’s. If you have been trying for a baby without success for six months, book in and see your GP for a referral to a specialist. ### **_Your All-Round Health _** Both you and your partner (or donor) should be in tip-top healthy before you even think about getting pregnant. Females, particularly, should not be grossly overweight or suffering from any reproductive problems. A trip to the ob-gyne would help you find out if there are any problems which should be addressed. Also, with the stress your body will go through for the entire nine months of pregnancy, you should have no health issues such as hypertension or diabetes. If you do, you need to get it under control first so as not to put your life at risk. If you have any health issues that need addressing, get these attended to before becoming pregnant (if you can) to protect but you and bub.   ### **_Your Lifestyle _** For males, smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol could take a toll on the quality of your sperm so you should probably think about quitting smoking altogether and cutting back on drinking sessions with your best buds. As mentioned, females who are overweight are believed to have difficulties getting pregnant. Eat sensibly and exercise regularly. A regular physical workout could even improve hormonal balance and blood circulation, which could in turn improve fertility. On the other hand, here are some of the infertility signs you and your partner should watch out for: * Irregular menstruation cycles which could indicate possible ovulation problems * Severe bleeding and menstrual cramps * Bleeding between periods which could indicate the presence of myoma or polyps * Thyroid problems which could affect hormone production and ovulation * Impotence or ejaculatory problems in males * History of sexually transmitted disease which could have left the reproductive organs damaged such as endometriosis, blocked fallopian tube ### **_When to See the Doctor_** Although you may be exhibiting one or more of the signs listed above, it still does not mean you or your partner has fertility issues. You should, however, consider seeking professional help if: * You have been having unprotected sex in the past 6 months * Suffered two or more miscarriages * You and your partner have been trying to get pregnant for at least a year (six months if you are over 30 years of age) ### **_What Happens Then?_** In most cases, the fertility specialist will subject you and your partner to a series of medical procedures to unearth the reason behind the infertility. These procedures could include: * Sperm analysis to check for sperm count, quality and motility * Ultrasound to check the reproductive organs for physical signs of problems * Blood tests to screen for diseases and infections which could affect fertility With the help of a fertility expert, you can work through whatever it is which is causing you to have problems conceiving. Just follow the expert’s advice and think positively! Nothing will make you conceive faster than being optimistic despite the challenges. Plus, with the many advances in technology these days, there is a good chance you will soon be welcoming a cute bundle of joy in no time. After these tests, if nothing comes up quite often your Gyno will book you in for a Laproscoprocy procedure.� This is minor keyhole surgery that will check your fallopian tubes aren’t blocked, and there are no other obvious reasons for infertility. Unfortunately, sometimes there is just isn’t an answer except for IVF – and keep trying. For a list of fertility clinics in Australia and New Zealand – Click Here!             ![author avatar](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/ 12/clare_whitfield_profile.webp?quality=80&ssl=1) Clare Whitfield Chief Editor Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work. [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [ ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)