Dr. Rhonda Zwingerman is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist, Twig’s Medical Director and co-founder.

Many people aren’t sure if and when they should seek out a fertility specialist. While everyone’s situation is different, there are some common scenarios  where someone may want to consider exploring fertility treatment. 

If you are in a relationship where one person has eggs and one person has sperm, it makes sense to try to conceive on your own before getting a referral to see a fertility specialist. We generally advise trying to conceive naturally before consulting a fertility specialist for up to 12 months if the person with eggs is younger than 35, for up to 6 months if 35-40 years old, and for up to 3 months if above the age of 40. If after this amount of time you have been unable to conceive, then it might be a good time to consult a fertility clinic.

In addition, there are some other reasons you might want to consult a fertility specialist sooner. If someone has irregular periods, or no periods at all, we recommend reaching out to a fertility clinic as soon as you’re interested in getting pregnant. If you or your partner have a medical or family history that includes something that can make it more difficult to conceive – for example, endometriosis, erectile dysfunction, family history of early menopause – those may be reasons to reach out to a fertility clinic for a consult sooner than the above timelines.

In cases where people know that both they and their partner are carriers of the same autosomal recessive genetic condition (for example, cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia), you can see a fertility specialist to learn more about the option of creating and testing embryos for that specific condition. 

There are, of course, many other people who will need to see a fertility physician in order to build their family. If you are intending on building a family without a partner or if you and your partner require donor eggs, donor sperm, and/or a gestational surrogate, then we recommend contacting a fertility physician as soon as you are ready to start your family. Similarly, you  can get in touch with a fertility physician if you are hoping to freeze your eggs or embryos for any reason. Some of these processes, especially for those using a donor or surrogate, can take time, so know that it is never too early to start the conversation to explore your options. 

If you have any questions about your fertility needs or would like to schedule a consult, please join our waitlist. We look forward to meeting you!