The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines infertility as a couple’s inability to conceive after one year of trying, or six months for women over the age of 35. There are many different possible causes of infertility in both men and women, so it’s recommended that couples who are struggling to conceive visit a fertility specialist to identify and treat the particular infertility condition.

A fertility specialist is a doctor, generally a reproductive endocrinologist, who helps treat conditions of infertility in men and women. The National Infertility Association also recommends that women with a previous miscarriage, those with painful or irregular periods, or those who do not ovulate see a fertility specialist as well. Infertility can have a number of causes, which an experienced fertility specialist is trained to diagnose and treat.