Reproductive endocrinologists, the doctors specializing in infertility, consider a couple to be infertile if:
-The couple has not conceived after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse if the female is under the age of 34
-The couple has not conceived after 6 months of contraceptive-free intercourse if the female is over the age of 35 (declining egg quality of females over the age of 35 account for the age-based discrepancy as when to seek medical intervention)
-The female is incapable of carrying a pregnancy to term.

What causes infertility in women?
Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to be fertilized. Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Less common causes of fertility problems in women include:
- Blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery for an ectopic pregnancy
- Physical problems with the uterus
- Uterine fibroids

Which factors increase a woman's risk of infertility?
Many things can affect a woman's ability to have a baby. These include age, stress, poor diet, athletic training, being overweight or underweight, tobacco smoking, alcohol, sexually transmitted diseases, health problems that cause hormonal changes.

How does age affect a woman's ability to have children?
More and more women are waiting until their 30s and 40s to have children. Actually, about 20 percent of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. So age is an increasingly common cause of fertility problems. About one third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems. Aging decreases a woman's chances of having a baby in the following ways: The ability of a woman's ovaries to release eggs ready for fertilization declines with age. The health of a woman's eggs declines with age. As a woman ages she is more likely to have health problems that can interfere with fertility. As a women ages, her risk of having a miscarriage increases.

Some health issues also increase the risk of fertility problems. So women with the following issues should speak to their doctors as soon as possible: irregular periods or no menstrual periods, very painful periods, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, more than one miscarriage. No matter how old you are, it's always a good idea to talk to a doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Doctors can help you prepare your body for a healthy baby. They can also answer questions on fertility and give tips on conceiving.