If it is not working to get pregnant, a widely used guide is: couples under 35 who have intercourse regularly for a year without result, and women over 35 after about half a year, may benefit from an evaluation (ASRM, 2021). That is a guide, not a hard rule. About 1 in 6 couples face this at some point.
I think it is important to stay calm about this. Most couples conceive on their own, just not always in the month they hoped for. Below you read how long trying is usual, when insight into your hormones can help and when a conversation with the GP makes sense.
When is not getting pregnant a reason to test?
There is no fixed moment that is right for everyone. Much depends on your age, your cycle and how long you have been trying. An irregular or absent period is often more of a reason to look than time alone.
A test is not a panic step and not proof that something is wrong. It brings possible factors into view, so you know whether a next step makes sense. Some women choose to look sooner, simply to reduce the uncertainty.
How long is it normal to try?
On average many couples conceive within a year. Over 35 that period is often a bit shorter before doctors look in, because fertility declines faster then (ASRM, 2014). The table below shows what often happens in which situation.
| Your situation | What often happens |
|---|---|
| Under 35, trying less than a year | Many couples still conceive during this year |
| Under 35, trying more than a year | Many people then seek insight or help |
| 35 or older, more than half a year | Doctors often look in sooner |
| Irregular or absent cycle | Insight into your hormones can be useful sooner |
This is a general picture, not a prescription for you. What fits your situation is best discussed with your GP. Want to know which hormones go with it? Read our overview of fertility testing.
What does a fertility test bring into view?
A blood test looks at the hormones that drive your cycle and ovulation. FSH and AMH say something about your ovaries, progesterone about ovulation, and a raised prolactin can actually suppress a cycle.
No single value gives the answer on its own. Together they show a pattern that gives direction. A hormone panel for women takes many of these values along at once. Unsure which test fits, see which blood test when trying to conceive.
Do you also have an irregular cycle, acne or excess hair alongside trouble conceiving? Then PCOS may play a part. We wrote separately about PCOS and getting pregnant, because the approach is sometimes a little different then.
When do you see the GP?
When pregnancy does not happen, the GP is often the logical starting point, especially if your cycle is irregular or you have been trying for a while. The GP can judge whether further evaluation is needed, including for your partner.
Because in about half of couples a factor lies with the man. A test on you alone does not give the whole picture. Testing yourself can be a good starting point for the conversation, not a replacement for care. You always discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wait exactly a year before doing anything?
No. A year is an average guide, not a rule. With an irregular cycle or over 35, doctors often look in sooner. What fits you is decided together with your GP. If it feels right to look sooner, that is fine too. Insight gives many women calm, even when nothing has to be wrong yet.
Does a normal result mean everything is fine?
Not necessarily. A normal hormone result is reassuring, but does not rule everything out. Other factors, including in your partner, can play a part. So a result belongs in a wider conversation with a doctor.
References
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2021;116(5):1255-1265. PMID: 34607703.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Gynecologic Practice and Practice Committee. Female age-related fertility decline. Committee Opinion No. 589. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(3):633-634. PMID: 24559617.
- NHG and Thuisarts.nl. It is not working to get pregnant (subfertility). Dutch College of General Practitioners. Available via thuisarts.nl.
Every blood test result through Lunara includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.
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