Want to get pregnant but it hasn't happened yet? Find out when you should see a fertility specialist.You may know someone who is struggling to get pregnant. That someone may be you. When should you see a fertility specialist? Basic Guidelines If you are under 35 and haven't gotten pregnant in one year, see a specialist. If you are both over 35, see a specialist after six months of trying. Fertility specialists are good for those who have had multiple miscarriages or want to family plan for a certain number of children at a particular age. Seeing a specialist doesn’t mean you start treatment immediately. Seventy percent of couples get pregnant within six months of trying. Age & Fertility Women are born with a set number of eggs. Menstrual cycles use up those eggs. The eggs age as you age so the quality goes down. The mechanical parts of your body that process those eggs experience wear and tear as you age, making it tougher to get pregnant. This is why women are more prone to miscarriages as they get older. Fertility Treatments Fertility treatments don’t create more eggs or repair the machinery of the reproductive system. Hormones increase the number of eggs released each month to optimize the chance that sperm can fertilize an egg. The media shares tales of women who are pregnant late in life. A menopausal woman can be pregnant either carrying a donor’s fertilized egg or her own frozen egg. The uterus doesn’t age so it can foster eggs from your earlier harvest. Fertility Tests Men: sperm count and motility Women: blood tests and ultrasound to determine ovarian reserve (function and estimated egg count) Miscarriage Miscarriages are very common. It is estimated that 15 percent of pregnancies in those 35 and under results in miscarriage. The percentage goes up with the age groups. Your chance for miscarriage is high after one miscarriage. You should see a fertility specialist if you’ve had two consecutive miscarriages. You will have at least a 70 percent chance of getting pregnant after two miscarriages. A specialist can check things out and advise on future pregnancies. Listen as Dr. Kristin Bendikson joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how fertility works and when you should seek help getting pregnant. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins