TTC in Your 30s

Fertility Testing Is the Key When TTC in Your 30s

If you’re in your early 30s and trying to conceive (TTC), you have about a 75% chance of getting pregnant within a year. Once you turn 35, those odds drop to 66%, and by the time you hit 40, to 44%. That’s because women who are TTC in their 30s normally experience a drop in egg quality and quantity. Thankfully, our providers offer many testing and treatment options to help you create the family you dream of at any age.

If you’re in your 30s and trying to get pregnant, there are some things you can do to increase your chances.

Get a preconception health check. Your OBGYN can offer valuable advice about how to prepare your body for pregnancy, including baseline tests and recommendations for supplements and lifestyle changes that may be right for you.

Track your ovulation. You can find ovulation predictor kits at any drugstore, and they can help you determine how to time intercourse to give you the best chance of conception. They can also help you find out if you have irregular cycles, which might indicate an issue with ovulation that means you need to see a fertility specialist.

Take care of your body and mind. When TTC in your 30s, it’s important to eat healthy, lose weight if you need to, avoid alcohol and tobacco, take prenatal vitamins, and get plenty of sleep. If you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes, see a specialist to get them under control. While it’s exciting to try to conceive, and negative pregnancy tests are normal, the process can be stressful, so be sure to take care of your mental health as well.

Give it six months. If you’ve been TTC in your 30s for six months without success, make an appointment for an evaluation with our New England fertility physicians. This is especially important if you are older than 35, as egg quality and quantity typically rapidly decline around this age.

Fertility testing when you are TTC in your 30s

For women and couples who are trying to conceive between the ages of 30 and 39, fertility testing provides valuable information about your egg and sperm supply, as well as about your body’s capabilities for supporting conception and pregnancy.

When you are TTC in your 30s and come to your first visit with our providers, be prepared to provide detailed information about your and your partner’s medical history. You can also expect our doctors to order fertility tests for both partners at this first visit.

For the male partner, we will order a semen analysis, which measures several important factors related to sperm health.

• Volume of semen
• Sperm count
• Concentration of sperm in the ejaculate
• Sperm motility, or movement
• Sperm morphology, or shape

For the female partner, we will order several tests to evaluate overall reproductive health.

• Blood tests to evaluate hormone levels related to ovulation and pregnancy
• Pelvic ultrasound exam to evaluate the reproductive organs and ovarian reserve, or number of eggs left in your ovaries.
• Sonohysterogram (SHG), a special test to check that the fallopian tubes are open, along with checking the uterine cavity.
• Genetic carrier screening for both partners, which can assess the risk of genetic disorders that could affect your future children

Once your test results are in, our team will share them with you and create a personalized plan to get you on the quickest path to pregnancy.

Don’t wait to get answers

If you’re TTC in your 30s and are struggling to conceive, schedule a visit with our New England fertility physicians for a complete fertility workup. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to get pregnant, with or without fertility treatment. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.