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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Why do under 35s have to wait 12mo for treatment and over 35 only 6mo?

31 replies

mariannaf · 16/09/2023 14:30

The older you get the longer, on average, for the average person, it should take to conceive, right? So why is it that couples over 35 have to wait a shorter amount of time before the docs will seriously consider helping them?

Let's say 2 couples have been trying for 6 months. One couple is 40 years old and the other is 25 years old. At 25yrs the average couple who are healthy would (probably) conceive before 6months and the fact that they haven't might indicate that there's an issue. Whereas at 40 the average may be above 6 months, and certainly longer average time at 40 than at 25, so the fact they haven't might mean they haven't been trying long enough. So why would the docs be willing to help the 40y.o but not 25y.o?

The reason I'm asking all this - we've been trying 5mo and so far no luck. We would be going via the private route anyway whether we go after 12 months or now, so is it worth flexing the truth a little and going to a private fertility clinic already for IVF or other treatments? We are 29 (me) and 34 (him). We've done sperm testing - he has borderline low sperm motility (29%) and borderline low sperm morphology (3%). We've also checked my uterus, fallopian tubes, done hormone testing on me - all fine. He is taking supplements

OP posts:
Dinosaurus86 · 16/09/2023 14:45

I don’t think the “seek medical advice to conceive” after 6 months post 35 is really accurate - it’s more about checking that there’s nothing obviously wrong, since time is not on your side should you need interventions. I believe up to a year is normal.

Having said that, I had a gut feeling something was wrong and paid for private investigations after 6 months when I was 33. I was right and we needed some treatment - we’d have been waiting much much longer on the NHS. If your tests are normal and his are ok - just not optimal - then I’d give it up to a year trying - also because the supplements may help. Often you don’t have that kind of time to play with if you’re older.

mynameiscalypso · 16/09/2023 14:43

On average, most couples take about 12 months, or slightly more, to conceive. It took us over 3 years (including failed IVF). So not to conceive within 12 months isn't necessarily a red flag, it's still within the normal range.

Original poster
mariannaf · 16/09/2023 14:38

@RidingMyBike ok so let's say 39 year old couple.

I just mean, if 6 months indicates an issue for a 36yo couple, surely it'll indicate an issue for a 30yo couple because the latter ones 'should' take a shorter time to conceive if there's no issue.

So given that the advice would be "seek medical help to conceive" after 6mo if I was 39, should I be seeking it after 5-6mo at 29?

OP posts:
Notagains · 16/09/2023 14:37

Surely it's because older women have less time to conceive so for them the waiting time for help has to be shorter.

mynameiscalypso · 16/09/2023 14:37

It's because of the time you have left and the likelihood that IVF will be a success - above a certain age, the chances of a live birth from IVF start decreasing quite quickly. If you're struggling to conceive, waiting 6 months once you get to a certain age could really decrease the chances. Some CCGs won't find over a certain age and waiting lists can be long so you can get to a stage where it's a race against time.

I don't think the same rules apply to private IVF so there's nothing stopping you starting now really other than the fact that 5 months is not an unusual length of time to not conceive and IVF is expensive, difficult/hard on your body and very stressful.

RidingMyBike · 16/09/2023 14:35

Because the older couple have less time to have the investigations, possible failed cycles before a successful pregnancy (which is less likely anyway) because they're older. Miscarriage rate also goes up for older women.

Younger couples have more time on their side - you definitely do at your ages.

I don't think a 40yo couple would be eligible for IVF on the NHS where I was living and looking into it.