From The National Women's Health Information Center

You should talk to your doctor about your fertility if you:

• Are under age 35 and, after a year of frequent sex without birth control, you are having problems getting pregnant
• Are age 35 or over and, after six months of frequent sex without birth control, you are having problems getting pregnant
• Believe you or your partner might have fertility problems in the future (even before you begin trying to get pregnant)

Your doctor can refer you to a fertility specialist, a doctor who focuses in treating infertility. This doctor can recommend treatments such as drugs, surgery, or assisted reproductive technology. Don't delay seeing your doctor because age also affects the success rates of these treatments.

Some health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible:

• irregular periods or no menstrual periods
• very painful periods
• endometriosis
• pelvic inflammatory disease
• more than one miscarriage

No matter how old you are, it's always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.