Will you be able to have a baby?

You'll never really know if you'll have fertility issues until you try to conceive. But if you're under 35 and have been trying for more than a year, talk with your gynecologist. She may be able to pinpoint a specific problem or refer you to a reproductive endocrinologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. If you're 35 or older, put yourself on a shorter schedule: Get help if you haven't conceived in six months. For more information or support, go to the National Infertility Association's Web site, resolve.org.

What is infertility?

Most experts define infertility as not being able to get pregnant after at least one year of trying. Women who are able to get pregnant but then have repeat miscarriages are also said to be infertile.

Pregnancy is the result of a complex chain of events. In order to get pregnant:

    * A woman must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
    * The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
    * A man's sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
    * The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).

Infertility can result from problems that interfere with any of these steps.

About 12 percent of women (7.3 million) in the United States aged 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term (2002 National Survey of Family Growth).