How do you know if you're unable to have children?

Most people don't know whether they can have children until they try. There's usually no obvious sign that tells you in advance.

Fertility isn't something you can check by looking at your body or by how you feel. Most people who have fertility problems don't find out until they've been trying to conceive for a while without success. In the UK, doctors usually suggest getting checked if you've been trying for a year without getting pregnant (or six months if you're over 35).

There are some things that can affect fertility. For women, very irregular or absent periods can sometimes be a sign that ovulation isn't happening regularly. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis can also affect fertility. For men, fertility issues are usually related to sperm quality or quantity, which can only be checked with a test.

Untreated STIs (especially chlamydia and gonorrhoea) can cause fertility problems if they're left for a long time, which is another reason regular testing matters.

If you're a teenager worrying about this, it's very unlikely you'd know at your age whether you can have children or not. If you have concerns, a GP can talk you through it.

Most people do not know if they can have children until they try. There is usually no obvious sign beforehand.

For girls and women, very irregular periods or no periods at all can sometimes mean the body is not releasing eggs regularly. Conditions like PCOS can affect this.

For boys and men, fertility problems are usually about sperm, which can only be checked with a test.

Untreated STIs like chlamydia can cause fertility problems if left for a long time. This is one reason getting tested matters.

If you are a teenager worrying about this, you would not usually know at your age. If you have concerns, a GP can help.