Photography by ©iStock

Trying to have a baby isn’t always a walk in the park. While some women have no issue getting pregnant, for others the process can be long, difficult and emotionally straining.

Generally, unlike those single-try success stories, many couples actually take about six to 12 months to conceive. Sometimes it takes more attempts, so how do you know if you have a problem that’s preventing pregnancy? The good news is, if you’re under 35 and healthy, you have about a 25 per cent chance each month of getting pregnant, and your chances increase to 60 per cent within three to six months and up to 85 per cent after one year of trying. Basically, you hit the jackpot eventually—if there’s nothing wrong.

But certain factors can throw a monkey wrench into your baby-making efforts. There’s no point waiting to check things out if there’s an underlying problem you know of, such as abnormal periods, polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS), a history of cancer or undescended testes, says Dr. Anthony Cheung, Chair of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Committee. “If you’re over 35, it’s also not a bad idea to initiate a conversation with your doctor and start the process of referral to a fertility specialist to investigate.” If you’re 40-plus, you may as well start the referral process right away, he says.

Expert Answers and Advice for Common Fertility Concerns:

• What You Need to Know About Ovulation
• How to Prepare For an Appointment with a Fertility Specialist
• Health Factors That May Affect Fertility
• Drugs That Can Increase Fertility
• In Vitro Fertilization: Costs, Procedure and Success Rates
• Adoption and Surrogacy: Beyond Fertility Options
• Helpful Fertility Links