Exact Answer: 12 months
TTC is a very popularly used abbreviation that is seen on pregnancy message boards and forums across the internet. The abbreviation stands for ‘trying to conceive’. As the name suggests, it is used to describe the period in which couples try to become pregnant with a baby.
Unlike what most think when it comes to TTC, this period is much more than just unprotected sexual intercourse. TTC is a sensitive time where you will need to research and be patient throughout the journey.
This can also be a very stressful time as everyone involved wants it to go the right way. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a couple who has done everything right when it comes to TTC has a probability of 25 percent for conceiving their baby.
How Long After TTC Should I See A Doctor?
| Age | Time to wait to see a doctor after TTC |
| Below 35 | 12 months |
| Above 35 | 6 months |
Much like the name suggests. TTC stands for the time period in which you are ‘trying to conceive’. As much as you may think that pregnancy occurs very easily, some couples may struggle quite a bit due to many bodily reasons, in order to conceive a baby.
An important thing to note is that TTC does not just mean having unprotected intercourse. TTC merely involves that, among many other crucial aspects of becoming pregnant.
TTC involves so many imperative points such as researching, scheduling everything, charting your cycles, and managing your stress during this time of uncertainty.
Unlike what most think, there is more to just unprotected sex in order to become pregnant. Pregnancy involves the fusion of the woman’s ovum with the man’s sperm. In order for this to happen, they must first be given the chance to meet.
Sperms are produced in the testicles and are microscopic cells that come out through ejaculation. Meanwhile, egg cells are stored in the ovaries, and they are responsible for the menstrual cycle, where one egg is released every month.
Your chances of pregnancy skyrocket during ovulation, which is the duration in which the mature egg passes through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it waits for sperm to fertilize it.
If the sperm is present and swims up to the uterus through the cervix, then it fertilizes the egg and fuses with it. Then the fused cells divide until they form a small ball that has to implant itself into the lining of the uterus. This is called pregnancy.
Some people may have trouble getting pregnant as the timing needs to be just right. The egg and the sperm cell should have been traveling at the same time to meet up and fertilize.
Patients under the age of 35 can wait 12 months after TTC to see a fertility doctor. Whereas, patients over the age of 35 can wait 6 months after TTC to see a doctor.
Why Does It Take That Long To See A Doctor After TTC?
For couples that are healthy and under 35, can wait for 12 months after TTC to go see a doctor. This is because women have a higher chance of conceiving when they are under the age of 35. This is due to the fact that they still have a lot of eggs stored in their ovaries. More eggs can mean more chances for conceiving during TTC.
However, those who are over the age of 35, they can wait for 6 months after TTC to consult a fertility specialist. This is because women have a lower chance of becoming pregnant above the age of 35. This is due to the fact that the number of eggs that they have stored in their ovaries decreases over time. This significantly cuts down the probability of conception during TTC.
In addition, if you are above the age of 35, then the quality of the eggs also reduces, resulting in abnormalities or miscarriages.
In order to increase your chances of becoming pregnant, you are advised to have sexual intercourse at least every other day during your fertile window. This fertile window refers to the time of ovulation when your egg is being released. This drastically increases the chances of the egg and the sperm meeting.
In addition, attaining a healthy body can also increase the probability of becoming pregnant. So you can eat specific foods that help you become pregnant, on top of nutritious foods in general.
Stress can also hinder you from conceiving, so it is important to stay positive and hopeful during TTC.
If you still haven’t gotten pregnant after TTC, it is best to consult a fertility doctor who can help you.
Conclusion
Therefore, we can understand that patients who are below the age of 35, who want to conceive, and those who have been trying to conceive must only wait for 12 months, or a year, to go see a fertility doctor.
On the other hand, patients over the age of 35 must wait for 6 months if they wish to conceive, before seeking help from a fertility doctor. This is because the older women get, the lesser their egg supply becomes.
Even though TTC can be a very concerning and crucial time of your life, there are many methods to increase your chances of conceiving a baby. These include keeping track of your fertile window and having intercourse at the right time, eating right, avoiding harmful habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking, and many more.