The singer, who married her husband Nick Cannon last year following a whirlwind romance, has been visiting a fertility clinic.
Carey were seen leaving a Beverly Hills' Southern California Reproductive Center last week, where they reportedly met with a prenatal specialist.
A source told gossip blogger Perez Hilton: "Nick and Mariah are trying anything and everything to conceive. After almost a year of trying the natural way, they visited a fertility clinic to help make their baby dream come true."
The renowned center is one of the leading in-itro fertilization (IVF) clinics in California.
The couple have made no secret of their desire to start a family, with Nick admitting he wants a large brood. He said: "We'll multiply. That's what's got to happen."
Mariah has also revealed she is ready to become a mother but tires of the constant speculation about whether she is expecting.
She said: "I don't like to talk about it too much. I just think about it as the next phase. We'll see."