I have been trying to get pregnant for about a year and half and still I have not accomplish that. I talked to my doctor about this problem and my doctor said it was normal because I had a regulated menstrual cycle. Is there anything I can take for my problem I really want a child?

I am 22. I have not taken any test and I have normal menstrual cycle, meaning it comes on time all the time I don’t think I can have kids because I had an abortion before and since then I have not been able to get pregnant again.

Doctor Joshua’s Answer:

It is very rare for an abortion to affect fertility. If there was a serious complication of abortion, such as infection, or there have been multiple abortions, it’s possible that these may have lead to anatomical changes that would have a negative effect on fertility. However, these changes can be corrected with surgery. If there were no complication, an abortion should not affect your chances of having a baby.

The fact that you have been pregnant previously means that you are a fertile woman and have every chance of getting pregnant again.

The biology of reproduction is complicated and there are many possible causes for not getting pregnant. One of the most common reasons, and often overlooked, has to do with sexual activity. The female egg can be fertilized only for about 24 hours each month - and actually the best chances are just 12 hours following ovulation. During that time, a sperm must unite with the egg. Male sperm stay fertile for up to 72 hours, and they must be present during that period of time after ovulation.

With the above in mind, it is not surprising that many couples simply do not have sex frequently enough to get pregnant. For this there are many reasons, the most common - in my experience from my family practice - being that people are very busy these days, and tired when they get home from work. Sex is often reserved for weekends. The average couple has sex only about twice a week, which often is not frequently enough for pregnancy to occur. Sexual activity should be increased, especially around the assumed time of ovulation.

In my experience, it is not that uncommon for a couple to have to wait 1.5 years or more before a pregnancy occurs.

Apart from that, there are numerous possible causes for infertility, and listing them all is beyond the scope of this answer.

Some things that you can review on your own, causes that are lifestyle-related: Obesity, stress, malnutrition, alcohol and drugs. If any of these apply to you, special attention to those factors is needed.

If the above do not apply to your situation, it is time to contact first your primary care physician, and then an infertility clinic and ask for advice.

Male infertility is more common than female infertility, and especially so in your case since you have been proven fertile in the past. Your partner may need to be tested for sperm quality and quantity. Other medical conditions are taken into account as well. A fertility expert will be able to answer your questions and order the necessary tests and examinations to get to the bottom of the matter, and to suggest infertility treatments if that should prove necessary.