After 12 months
Consider a fertility evaluation after a year of trying without pregnancy.
Fertility paths · Couples
Two people.
One shared plan.
Fertility care for heterosexual couples starts with understanding both partners—your health, your history and the family you hope to build.
Whether you are just starting, have been trying for some time, or want a fresh look at previous care, begin with a clear explanation of your options.
When to begin
A useful conversation.
At the right time for you.
If pregnancy has not happened with regular unprotected intercourse, these general time points can help you decide when to seek evaluation. They refer to the age of the partner providing eggs.
After 6 months
Seek an evaluation after six months of trying without pregnancy.
Speak with a clinician sooner
A more immediate evaluation may be appropriate. You do not have to wait for a set number of months.
Seek guidance earlier at any age for irregular or absent periods, known reproductive conditions, suspected sperm concerns, repeated pregnancy loss, sexual difficulties affecting conception, or treatment that may affect fertility.
A shared evaluation
Both partners.
The whole picture.
Fertility can involve either partner, both partners, or factors that are not clear after initial testing. Evaluation is a shared process, not a search for blame.
Start with your story
Review how long you have been trying, cycles, prior pregnancies, medical history, medications, previous tests and your goals.
Evaluate in parallel
Testing may include ovulation assessment, ultrasound, tubal evaluation and semen analysis, selected for your history.
Understand the results
Discuss what the findings mean, their limits and how they affect your options. Ovarian reserve results do not answer every fertility question.
Choose and review
Agree on a plan, practical timing and a point to review progress together. Your next step can change as new information becomes available.
Your guide · Explore at your pace
Understand the options.
Choose with context.
There is no single treatment sequence for every couple. Explore these connected routes, then discuss which ones fit your evaluation, priorities and timeline.
Evaluation
Understand the whole picture.
A shared history and appropriate tests help identify factors involving ovulation, eggs, fallopian tubes, the uterus and sperm. Sometimes the initial evaluation does not identify a cause.
Ask: What have we learned about each partner, and what remains uncertain?
Explore fertility testing ↗Ovulation & timing
Work with your cycle, when appropriate.
Your clinician may discuss cycle tracking, treatment for an ovulation disorder, or timed intercourse when the evaluation supports this approach. Medication and monitoring are individualized.
Ask: Is this approach reasonable for our findings and timeline?
Explore hormone health ↗IUI
Bring prepared sperm closer to the egg.
Prepared sperm is placed in the uterus around ovulation. Whether IUI is suitable depends on factors such as age, ovulation, tubal patency and sperm findings. It is not a required step before IVF.
Ask: Why might IUI help us, and when would we reassess?
Explore IUI ↗IVF & ICSI
Create embryos in the laboratory.
IVF involves egg retrieval and laboratory fertilization before embryo transfer. ICSI injects a single sperm into an egg when indicated; it is not automatically needed for every couple.
Ask: What is the reason for IVF or ICSI in our particular case?
Explore IVF ↗Donor & carrier options
Explore additional ways forward.
Donor eggs, donor sperm, donated embryos or a gestational carrier may be discussed when medically appropriate or aligned with your goals. Screening, counseling and legal requirements differ.
Ask: Which options fit our medical needs and preferences?
Explore donor egg treatment ↗Planning ahead
Consider your future family.
Egg, sperm or embryo freezing may be relevant to medical treatment, timing or future family goals. Storage and later use involve additional decisions, treatment and costs.
Ask: What can preservation offer us, and what can it not predict?
Explore preservation ↗These are educational starting points, not a treatment recommendation. Suitability, timing and outcomes vary. No treatment or preservation approach guarantees pregnancy or a future child.
Before your first visit
Bring your questions.
We’ll connect the pieces.
- Your history and prior careGather prior test reports, treatment summaries and a medication list for both partners.
- Your prioritiesTalk about timing, family size, treatment preferences and what each of you needs to understand.
- Your practical planDiscuss appointments, emotional support, insurance questions and an individualized cost review.
Share medical records through the secure channel provided by your care team. Please do not submit sensitive information through public website forms.
Common questions
Start with what matters to you.
Should we both be evaluated?
Yes, when both partners are contributing eggs and sperm, assessment usually begins in parallel. A semen analysis and the reproductive evaluation of the partner providing eggs can help avoid unnecessary delays.
Does seeing a fertility specialist mean we need IVF?
No. Your consultation helps clarify the situation. Depending on the findings, a plan might involve further evaluation, timing or ovulation support, IUI, IVF, specialist referral or another approach.
What if our tests do not show a clear cause?
Some couples have unexplained infertility after a standard evaluation. This does not mean the difficulty is not real. Your clinician can discuss reasonable options using your age, history, time trying and preferences.
Can we seek a second opinion after previous treatment?
Yes. Bring prior cycle summaries, test results and embryology reports when available. A review can help identify what is known, what might need clarification and which options are reasonable to discuss.
How do we plan for costs and support?
Ask which evaluation, medication, monitoring, laboratory, storage and future-use costs may apply to the proposed plan. Benefits and coverage depend on your policy. Counseling and coordination can help you navigate decisions together.
Connected care
Go deeper into your next question.
Your next step
A conversation for both of you.
Meet with RCA to review your history, understand your options and decide on the next step together.
Educational information · Prepared October 17, 2026. Your clinician recommends care based on your individual circumstances.