The short explanation
Both of you, together. The usual threshold is twelve months of regular unprotected sex, or six months if you are over 35 — and investigating only one partner is how couples lose a year. For you that usually means blood tests to check ovulation, a check of the tubes, and an ultrasound; for him, a semen analysis.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Earlier assessment is reasonable if your periods are very irregular or absent, if you have known endometriosis, pelvic infection or surgery, or if he has a relevant history. Age is the single biggest factor in how quickly to move.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you why conception has not happened, what your chances are, or which treatment would suit. Those depend on both of you and on results nobody has yet.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Which tests do we each start with, and in what order?
- How long does the whole assessment usually take?
- What is treatable here and what is not?
- What are the costs, and what is covered?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
- Separately from fertility: severe pelvic pain, fever, or bleeding between periods should be seen promptly rather than folded into an investigation timeline.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
No sources recorded yet.
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off. That is what the “Editorially reviewed” badge means, and why it does not say “Clinically reviewed”. It was written and checked by AskHer’s editorial team, and it is queued for a clinician who works in this area. No sources are recorded against it yet.
- Review status
- Editorially reviewed
- Last reviewed
- Last reviewed 25 September 2026
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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