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When to go to your GP - Fertility problems

Go to your GP if you or your partner:

  • are a woman age 35 or under and tried to get for more than 1 year without success
  • are a woman age 36 or over and tried to get pregnant for more than 6 months without success
  • have a health problem that can affect fertility
  • had previous fertility treatment
  • take medicine that may affect your fertility or pregnancy
  • need donor sperm or eggs to have a baby
What we mean by health problems that can affect fertility

Some health conditions and treatment can affect male and female fertility, such as:

  • previous cancer treatment
  • previous chlamydia or gonorrhoea
  • hormone problems
  • long-term health problems such as cystic fibrosis

Health problems that affect female fertility are:

Health problems that affect male fertility are:

  • surgery or injury to your testicles
  • infection in your testicles

Having a baby through sex

If you are a woman age 40 or under, most of the time you can get pregnant through sex within a year.

But you need to have regular periods and unprotected sex. Regular unprotected sex is having sex every 2 to 3 days without using contraception.

About 4 in 5 couples can get pregnant this way within 1 year.

Trying for a baby

Having a baby if you need donor eggs or sperm

If you need donor eggs or sperm to become pregnant, your GP may be able to:

  • give you advice
  • refer you for tests or treatment

Trans or non-binary

If you are trangender (trans) or non-binary, talk to your GP before starting any treatment to alter your body. If you want to preserve your fertility, plan for this before you start any treatment, including surgery or medicine.

Your GP can discuss your options for preserving your fertility.

If you want to start a fertility treatment cycle, talk to the fertility clinic that stores your sperm or eggs about using them.

What to expect at your GP appointment

Your GP may:

If you have a partner, attend your GP appointment together. Your GP may examine your partner or refer them for tests.

Questions your GP may ask

Your GP will ask you questions to find out if you need more tests or treatment.

How long you tried to get pregnant

In couples with a woman age 35 or under, your GP may advise you to try for longer if both of the following apply:

  • it is less than 1 year since you started trying to get pregnant
  • you do not have health problems that can affect fertility

How to improve your chances of getting pregnant

Problems with sex

Your GP may ask how often you have sex or if you have any difficulties during sex.

It's OK if you feel embarrassed talking about sex. But for your GP this is a normal question. They are used to talking about sex.

Having sex every 2 to 3 days is the best way to get pregnant.

Your medical history

Some conditions or treatments affect fertility and pregnancy.

Your GP may ask about your medical history, including any medical conditions or treatment.

If you are a man and had a different GP in the past, they may ask if you had:

  • testicles that did not drop
  • a serious injury to your testicles
  • cancer treatment

Monitoring conditions that affect pregnancy

Some conditions can have an impact on you or your baby if you get pregnant. These include high blood pressure and diabetes.

Your GP may check that any conditions are under control before they refer you for fertility treatment or tests.

Talk to your GP or specialist doctor before you start trying for a baby. This is so your health is the best it can be and to lower potential risks.

Cervical screening

Your GP may check that you are up to date with your cervical screening, if you are a woman.

Cervical screening

Medicines you take

Certain medicines may affect fertility or are unsafe to take during pregnancy.

Talk to your GP about any medicines you take. Tell them if you take any non-prescription medicines or herbal remedies.

Do not stop taking a prescription medicine unless your GP tells you to. You can put your health at risk if you stop taking medicine you need.

Your GP may check if you take folic acid if you are a woman.

Folic acid when planning a pregnancy

Periods

If you are a woman, your GP will ask how often you get periods and if you have:

  • painful periods
  • bleeding after sex
  • bleeding between periods
  • any symptoms when you ovulate
Previous pregnancies

Your GP may ask if you and your partner had any pregnancies or children. This can be from your current relationship or a previous relationship.

If you were pregnant before, your GP will ask about:

  • any complications you had - such as pre-term births or conditions such as gestational diabetes
  • procedures you had afterwards, such as surgery
  • previous miscarriage
  • previous ectopic pregnancy
  • previous abortion
Contraception (birth control) you used

Your GP will ask what type of contraception you used in the past and when you stopped using it.

Certain types of contraception may take some time to stop working. For example, the contraceptive injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate).

Coming off contraception

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Your GP will ask if you had any STIs. Some STIs can affect fertility. For example, chlamydia or gonorrhoea.

Lifestyle

Your GP will ask:

  • if you smoke
  • how much alcohol you drink
  • about your weight and height
  • if you are under stress
  • if you take any illegal drugs, including performance-enhancing substances

They may recommend making some changes to improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Health checks

Your GP will check your health in a number of ways.

Weight and BMI (body mass index)

Your GP may weigh you.

Being a healthy weight for your height increases your chances of becoming pregnant.

Healthy weight when trying to get pregnant

Physical examinations

Your GP may check your blood pressure, listen to your heart and lungs and do other physical health checks.

If you are a woman, they may sometimes do a vaginal (internal) examination. This helps your GP check your womb and ovaries.

Tests

Your GP may:

  • arrange blood tests to check if you are immune to rubella and varicella (chickenpox)
  • do hormone tests (including thyroid tests)
  • refer you for specialist tests to check for causes of fertility problems - these may be at a regional fertility hub
  • arrange a test for STIs - sometimes you can do the STI test yourself

Free home STI testing - sh24.ie

What to expect at a regional fertility hub

Page last reviewed: 04/08/2026
Next review due: 04/08/2029