To know if someone is infertile, the primary indicator is the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sex if under age 35, or after six months if over age 35. Infertility can be associated with symptoms such as irregular or absent periods, very heavy or painful menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or hormonal imbalances in women. For men, infertility signs may include issues like sexual dysfunction, low sperm count or poor sperm movement, which can only be confirmed through medical testing like semen analysis. Medical diagnosis often involves physical examinations, hormone blood tests, ultrasounds to check reproductive organs, and tests for infections like chlamydia. For men, a semen analysis is the main test to check sperm quality. If there are symptoms or difficulty conceiving, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider or fertility specialist who can order these diagnostic tests to determine fertility status. In summary:
- Try to conceive for 12 months (or 6 months if over 35) without success to consider infertility.
- Look for symptoms such as irregular, absent, or heavy periods, pelvic pain in women; sexual issues or testicular pain in men.
- Seek medical evaluation including hormone tests, ultrasound, and semen analysis for diagnosis.
This approach helps identify infertility and its causes to guide treatment options.
