Conventional wisdom has it that if, after a year of unprotected sex, a couple hasn't produced a pregnancy, they're officially "infertile." That's an okay rule of thumb, if you've got a year to wait (many of us don't) and can tolerate 12 months worth of anxiety and disappointment gracefully (most of us can't). When you begin to feel the twinge of that common doubt -- "Are we experiencing infertility?" -- that's when it's time to tackle the issue head on.

Let's start with some basic facts. Infertility is not uncommon. One out of every 10 couples in the U.S. is infertile. That translates to more than six million people running into problems conceiving and bearing a child. Of those, 40 percent will find a male factor, 40 percent will discover a female factor, 10 percent will learn that both partners have something going on and the remaining 10 percent won't get an answer at all -- it'll remain a mystery.

That's the statistical landscape. Now you've got to plug your individual circumstances into the equation to make an informed decision about if and when you should get the help of a reproductive specialist. There are simple and effective diagnostic tools to help you analyze your situation and figure out the best course of action. The key here is to be proactive, take some control and help yourselves make the difference.

Age
Maternal age is probably the single most important element to consider right off the bat (other than establishing the presence of eggs and sperm, that is). The bald fact is that a woman's fertility diminishes with the years. Its decline begins even before the age of 30, becoming more pronounced after 35 and plunging after 39. The reason is simple. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have. Over time, that ova supply gets depleted. The remaining eggs age right along with the rest of the body. That means, if the prospective mother is 35 or older, give nature no more than six months before consulting an expert.