Generally, women younger than 35 years of age should seek professional advice after 12 months of trying to conceive on their own. Women over 35 may see a fertility specialist after 6 months of trying. For women over 40, it is advisable to see a specialist as soon as they decide to get pregnant. However, these guidelines may not apply if there is a medical condition that needs immediate attention. For example, it would not be advisable for a 26-year-old woman with a condition such as polycystic ovaries (PCOS) or irregular menstrual cycle to wait a year to get expert opinion.

Advancing age affects fertility in both men and women. Every woman is born with 1-2 million eggs in her ovaries. From the onset of puberty, she loses about a thousand eggs each month. By the mid-thirties, the number of viable eggs left in her ovaries has declined considerably, and the quality of eggs also declines with advancing age. Similarly, aging affects the volume and quality of sperm in men. Add to this the modern lifestyle and environmental factors which affect fertility in both sexes, making spontaneous conception difficult for even younger couples.

Fortunately, advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART) have made it possible to treat a range of complex infertility conditions that were once considered untreatable. Fertility preservation through egg freezing and sperm freezing helps modern day couples to stop the biological clock.

There is plenty of research supporting the negative effects of poor lifestyle on fertility in both men and women. For example, smoking is known to affect sperm production in men and ovulation in women. Women who smoke also face an increased risk of miscarriage and premature labour. Excess body weight, alcohol/substance abuse, chronic stress, exposure to certain toxins - all are known to hamper fertility.

The good news: while medical intervention is required to counter the biological and medical causes of infertility, you can negate the adverse effect of lifestyle factors by making healthy choices every day.

Learn more: Did I cause my infertility?

If you have a regular menstrual cycle, recording your cycle - the number of days between each period and the length of the period - can help you determine your fertile days.

Your ovaries release a single mature egg into a fallopian tube each month. This is known as ovulation which generally occurs 14 days prior to your next menstrual period. Therefore, in a 28-day cycle, ovulation would occur on the 14th day of your menstrual period (consider day 1 of your period as the first day of your cycle). Similarly, in a 32-day cycle, ovulation would occur on the 18th day (32-14) of your period. By recording your menstrual cycle for a few months, you will be able to predict your most fertile days and plan intercourse accordingly to maximise the chances of sperm from your partner meeting the egg. Remember that your egg will live only for 24 hours after its release from the ovary, while sperm can survive for 5 days in the cervical fluid. Therefore your goal must be to have frequent intercourse during your fertile window starting 5 days prior to the likely ovulation date to up to 3 days after ovulation.

Women who have an irregular menstrual cycle or miss periods every now and then may find it difficult to predict ovulation accurately and will benefit from seeing a Gynaecologist.

The first consultation with your fertility specialist involves a thorough evaluation of both partners through your detailed medical history along with questions about your menstrual cycle, reproductive history (past pregnancies, fertility treatment, etc.), and lifestyle. This is generally followed by a physical examination.

To reach a diagnosis, your doctor will schedule fertility testing for one or both partners. You can learn more about fertility testing here. Based on the test results, your doctor will discuss the treatment options available to you.

From ovulation induction to embryo transfer, a typical IVF cycle generally takes between 4 and 6 weeks. Learn more about IVF treatment