What is the standard interval before declaring infertility in couples under 35 and over 35 years old?

• A. 24 months
• B. 12 months for less than 35 years old and 6 months for greater than 35 years old
• C. 6 months for all ages
• D. 18 months for all ages

Answer: (B)

Fertility evaluation timelines change with age because a person’s remaining reproductive years and the likelihood of conceiving naturally decline as age increases. The standard approach is to give younger couples more time to conceive before evaluating infertility, while starting evaluation earlier for older couples.

So, the threshold is: for someone under 35, infertility is declared after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse without conception; for someone older than 35, the threshold is reached after 6 months. This balances giving younger couples a reasonable chance at natural conception with recognizing the quicker decline in fertility as age increases.

The other options don’t fit the usual guidelines: waiting 24 months is too long for under 35, applying 6 months to all ages ignores age-related decline, and 18 months for all ages isn’t the standard practice.