When to See a GP If You're Struggling to Conceive

Around 1 in 3 couples conceive within the first month of trying, and roughly 84% conceive within a year of regular, unprotected sex. That leaves a meaningful group for whom it takes longer — and knowing when "give it more time" should become "book a GP appointment" is genuinely useful information most people don't have until they need it.

The standard timeline: 12 months

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you haven't conceived after a year of trying with regular unprotected sex (roughly every 2-3 days). At this stage, a GP can start basic investigations — for both partners — to look for anything straightforward that might be affecting things, and refer on to specialist fertility services if needed.

When to go sooner: 6 months

The NHS recommends seeing a GP after 6 months rather than waiting the full year if any of the following apply:

• You're 36 or over — fertility naturally declines with age, and earlier investigation preserves more options and time
• You or your partner have a known reason to suspect a fertility problem (e.g. irregular or absent periods, a previous diagnosis like PCOS or endometriosis, undescended testicles, or previous cancer treatment)
• You have a known medical condition that can affect fertility, such as diabetes

What a GP actually does at this stage

Initial fertility investigation is usually straightforward: a review of your cycle and general health, blood tests to check hormone levels and confirm ovulation is happening, and for male partners, a semen analysis. None of this requires a specialist referral to begin — a GP can order the initial round of tests directly.

What happens after initial tests

If initial tests don't identify an obvious cause, or if a cause is found that needs specialist treatment, your GP can refer you to a fertility clinic. NHS-funded fertility treatment (including IVF, in some circumstances) is available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, though eligibility criteria, waiting times and how many treatment cycles are funded vary significantly by local area — worth asking your GP directly what applies where you live, since this isn't standardised nationally.

It's not just about one partner

Roughly a third of fertility issues relate to the male partner, a third to the female partner, and the remainder are unexplained or a combination of factors. Initial investigations are for both partners together — worth knowing so this doesn't become a one-sided process by default.