Timing is Everything: Why the ‘Wait and See’ Approach to Pregnancy Can Backfire

Lucknow : Couples begin their parenthood journey with patience and quiet confidence, believing that ‘it will happen naturally.’ Natural conception naturally feels right as a starting point but here’s the thing that often goes against them: a long wait and continuous wishing. Knowing what’s going on with your reproductive health matters way more than just guessing and hoping for the best. Getting fertility parameters evaluated doesn’t mean you’re giving up on natural conception. If anything, it helps you try in a more informed and smart manner, assures Dr Shreya Gupta, Fertility Specialist at Birla Fertility & IVF, Lucknow.

Why timing matters
You’d be surprised how many couples end up in a fertility clinic after two, three, even five years of trying on their own. The numbers back this up: A study of couples with infertility found that the average time before a medical diagnosis was 3.2 years, with about 2 years spent attempting conception on their own. Biologically, time can mean a lot: advancing maternal age and a shrinking ovarian reserve, ageing sperm, thyroid or metabolic changes, or hidden problems like endometriosis or blocked tubes.

One can’t see such issues without a fertility checkup and hence, as a rule, it is wise to seek help if a couple is unable to conceive after around 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse (or six months if the woman is aged 35 or above).

What “trying naturally” conceals
When couples choose to keep attempting conception without evaluation, they may miss out on identifying issues. So many fertility problems don’t come with any warning signs.
●    Blocked fallopian tubes so egg and sperm never meet
●    Ovulation problems that don’t cause obvious symptoms
●    Sperm issues like low motility or abnormal shape
●    Uterine problems, such as polyps or fibroids
●    Thyroid problems, insulin resistance, or high prolactin
●    Low egg count, even if periods seem totally normal

A fertility specialist often finds that by the time couples attend their first consultation, what might have been addressed via simpler interventions now requires more advanced treatment, with correspondingly lower success rates and greater cost or physical burden.

How early assessment changes the outlook
When a couple gets a basic fertility workup—AMH test, semen analysis, ultrasound, thyroid check—they’re not skipping natural conception. They’re actually giving themselves the best shot at it. Early investigation allows identification of correctable causes, be it a simple hormonal imbalance or lifestyle factor. With clear information, couples can also make choices whether they need intervention or not.

A realistic approach for couples
‘Trying naturally’ and ‘seeking evaluation’ need not be opposing approaches. They can be consecutive steps, with the second activated at the appropriate time so that when support is needed, it arrives early enough to be meaningfully effective.

(Report by Yash Saini)