Time Commitment

Many couples find it helpful to have a clearly defined approach to treating their infertility. Your healthcare provider can identify each procedure or treatment, its duration and when it may be time to consider other treatment options. By thinking and planning ahead in the context of a long-range plan, this may help give the process an understandable beginning, middle, and end.

Here are some things to consider as you talk with your healthcare provider. You may not go through all of the following phases.

How long should you try to conceive on your own?

By definition, infertility is the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse if a woman is under age 35 (six months if she is over 35). There are other personal factors that may influence your decision when to see a healthcare provider. You should talk to a healthcare provider whenever you have concerns about your fertility.

How long should you take clomiphene citrate?

Before you start treatment with clomiphene citrate, it may be helpful to talk with your healthcare provider about how many cycles of this medication are recommended before moving on to another kind of treatment. Once you begin taking clomiphene citrate, you should be aware that that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends that patients generally be limited to no more than six ovulatory cycles of this medication.[1] At that point, your healthcare provider may recommend pursuing another treatment. And if you're over 35 years of age, you may consider seeing a Fertility Specialist, also called a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

Read more about clomiphene citrate

How long before you know if surgery has solved your infertility problem?

If your healthcare provider recommends surgery, you may wish to inquire how long it should take afterwards to know if it successfully solved the problem. And if it didn't, what kind of treatment might be appropriate to try next.

Read more about surgical procedures

How many cycles of Ovulation Induction (OI) or Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) should you undertake?

Again, talk with your healthcare provider about the time and financial commitment that each type of treatment may require. That way, you can make an informed decision about how many cycles of OI or an ART procedure such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) you may be willing to try given your age, finances, and frame of mind.

Read more about Advanced Treatments

Should I talk to a Fertility Specialist, Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)?

If your initial treatments aren't successful, it may be time to talk to a Fertility Specialist, also called a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). Learn more about working with a Fertility Specialist, Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

Find a Fertility Specialist, or Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE), in your area.

• My Fertility Planning Guide (135 KB)