Fertility Check: when to see a doctor?

When to see a doctor for fertility concerns is guided by established clinical guidelines. For women under 35, it is recommended to seek evaluation after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. For women aged 35 and older, this period shortens to 6 months due to age-related decline in fertility. Earlier consultation is advised if there are known risk factors such as irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, previous miscarriages, known hormonal disorders (e.g., PCOS), or for men with known semen quality issues. Importantly, direct-to-consumer DNA tests (like those from MyBody-X) cannot replace a medical fertility workup. They often report weak associations (e.g., single SNPs in genes like MTHFR or ADIPOX) whose clinical relevance for individual fertility is unclear or unproven. A doctor can assess hormone levels, ovarian reserve, semen analysis, and structural causes. The evidence for these timelines is based on clinical practice guidelines (e.g., from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine).