Let's find your next step.
Answer three short questions and you'll see what to do first, what testing makes sense, and which care options fit, with the reasons and sources. It applies published guidance from ASRM, ACOG and the CDC, plus each program's own rules. It never diagnoses, predicts or promises anything.
Last reviewed
How the check decides
Every result comes from these rules and nothing else. Nothing is scored, nothing is predicted, and commission plays no part.
How we source and date every fact| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| She is under 35 | Ask for an evaluation after 12 months of trying. | Defining Infertility; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions |
| She is 35 to 40 | Ask for an evaluation after 6 months of trying. | Defining Infertility; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions |
| She is older than 40 | Talk with an OB/GYN about an evaluation now. | Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions |
| Anything on the "sooner" list applies to either of you | Don't wait out the full time. | Defining Infertility; Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions |
| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Either of you is under 18 | Start with a doctor you trust. | Gala Fertility program page |
| You're two women, two men, or on your own | A fertility clinic is your path. | Diagnostic Testing for Infertility; Defining Infertility |
| A doctor has told you that you need IUI or IVF | A clinic comes first. | Gala Fertility program page; Treating Infertility (FAQ137) |
| A doctor has found something like blocked tubes, low ovarian reserve, changes in the uterus or a sperm problem | A clinic, or a reproductive urologist, comes first. | Gala Fertility program page |
| You have another diagnosis, or aren't sure what you've been told | Start with a doctor you trust. | Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136) |
| The timeline says it's time, or something on the "sooner" list applies | It's time to get checked, together. | Diagnostic Testing for Infertility; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136) |
| None of the rules above match | A checkup now, and testing if it's needed later. | Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions; Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care (FAQ056) |
| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You're two men | Not a fit. | Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136); Defining Infertility |
| A clinic comes first | Clinic first. | Gala Fertility program page; Treating Infertility (FAQ137) |
| It's just you | Fits now. | Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136) |
| Any other answer | Fits now. | Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136); Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care (FAQ056) |
| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You're not one male and one female partner | Not a fit. | Gala Fertility program page |
| Either of you is under 18 | Not a fit. | Gala Fertility program page |
| You live in New York, New Jersey or Rhode Island | Not a fit. | Gala Fertility program page |
| You live outside the United States | Not a fit. | Gala Fertility program page |
| You live in Washington, DC or a US territory | Check availability. | Gala Fertility program page |
| A clinic comes first, or you've checked known or suspected problems with the uterus or tubes | Clinic first. | Gala Fertility program page |
| The timeline says it isn't time yet, or a doctor should come first | Later, if needed. | Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions; Gala Fertility program page |
| None of the rules above match | Fits now. | Gala Fertility program page |
| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You're two women, two men, or on your own | Fits now. | Diagnostic Testing for Infertility |
| A clinic comes first | Fits now. | Gala Fertility program page; Treating Infertility (FAQ137) |
| It's time to get checked | Fits now. | Diagnostic Testing for Infertility |
| The timeline says it isn't time yet, or a doctor should come first | Later, if needed. | Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136) |
| If | Then | Source |
|---|---|---|
| You pick what matters most | Notes are added to each option. |
When more than one rule matches an option, the label follows this order: Not a fit, then Clinic first, then Check availability, then Later if needed, then Fits now. Every matching reason is still shown.
Couples with a female and a male partner, by the age of the female partner. Single people and same-sex couples follow the donor path below.
Under 35
Ask for an evaluation after 12 months of trying.
Sources: Defining Infertility, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), ReproductiveFacts.org; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
35 to 40
Ask for an evaluation after 6 months of trying.
Sources: Defining Infertility, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), ReproductiveFacts.org; Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Older than 40
Talk with your OB/GYN about an evaluation now.
Sources: Evaluating Infertility (FAQ136), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
ACOG says "older than 35." ASRM and the CDC say "35 or older." We use the earlier point, so at 35 the six-month rule applies.
Timeline checked October 27, 2026 against the ASRM, ACOG and CDC pages.