Most couples are able to get pregnant within six months to a year. If you're unable to conceive after a full year of trying, it's a good idea to consult a fertility specialist. Sometimes there's an obvious cause of infertility, like a physical problem with the ovaries, uterus, or testicles.
According to a survey from Channel Mum, couples are having a lot of sex before they finally get that positive pregnancy test. The Channel Mum team carried out a survey of 1,194 parents—and the couples surveyed had sex 78 times on average before conceiving.
According to infertility research, the likelihood of getting pregnant in the first month is around 30% . For people without fertility issues, the approximate chances of conception are: 75% after 6 months. 90% after a year.
Of all couples trying to conceive: 30 percent get pregnant within the first cycle (about one month). 60 percent get pregnant within three cycles (about three months). 80 percent get pregnant within six cycles (about six months).
There are some relatively controllable factors that may be slowing down a couple's ability to conceive. For women, they include being too overweight or underweight, eating disorders, excessive exercise, smoking and drinking.
There are lots of reasons pregnancy doesn't always happen right away. Some common reasons include stress, not timing baby-making sex with ovulation, residual effects of hormonal birth control, and certain health conditions.
The good news: It might not happen right away, but most couples who are trying to conceive do get pregnant. About 50 percent have happy news within six months, while 85 percent are pregnant within a year of trying.
One possible problem is that ovulation may not occur every month. If you've recently stopped taking hormonal contraception, ovulation may be delayed or irregular for a short time. If you've been using a contraceptive injection, ovulation may be delayed or irregular for up to a year.
Women in their early 20s to early 30s have a one in four chance of becoming pregnant each month. However, the likelihood of becoming pregnant decreases as women continue to age past 30. In fact, women have only a 1 in 10 chance of becoming pregnant each month by the time they're 40.
Having trouble getting pregnant can be caused by many things including problems with ovulation, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, PCOS, premature menopause, fibroids, thyroid problems and a condition called Turner syndrome. Depending on the cause there are a number of treatment options.
While some pregnancy symptoms start very early, most of the time, you won't notice anything right away. Anything that happens immediately after having sex, like spotting, increased discharge, or feeling tired or nauseated, is usually unrelated to pregnancy.
The days before and during menstruation are the least fertile days of the menstrual cycle. People with a menstrual cycle that is shorter than 28 days could ovulate within days of their period ending. Menstrual cycles may shorten with age, particularly after the age of 35 years .
It's a good idea to see a GP if you have not conceived after a year of trying. Women aged 36 and over, and anyone who's already aware they may have fertility problems, should see their GP sooner. They can check for common causes of fertility problems and suggest treatments that could help.
“The vast majority of people will become pregnant within the first 12 months of trying to conceive with regular unprotected intercourse,” says Cross. “After six months to a year of trying — depending on a woman's age — we recommend that a couple comes in for an infertility evaluation.
If you're under 35 and in good health, it's perfectly natural for it to take up to a year. It can take longer if you are older, however, for women aged 38, 67% who have regular unprotected sexual intercourse will still get pregnant after two years of trying2.
Cumulative conception rates are around 75% after six months, 90% after a year, and 95% at two years. Subfertility is defined as a failure to conceive after one year of unprotected regular sexual intercourse.
However, there are many possible reasons why you aren't conceiving, including ovulation irregularities, structural problems in the reproductive system, low sperm count, underlying medical problems, or simply not trying enough.
The most common overall cause of female infertility is the failure to ovulate, which occurs in 40% of women with infertility issues. Not ovulating can result from several causes, such as: Ovarian or gynecological conditions, such as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Conception is possible during the 'fertile window' – the five days leading up to, plus the day of ovulation. There is even more chance of a woman becoming pregnant if she has sex during the two days leading up to or on the day of ovulation.
Truth: Ovulating Is Only One Element of Getting Pregnant
If the fallopian tubes are blocked, pregnancy can't occur. Also, you need sperm. Getting pregnant isn't only about the woman's fertility. It's also important to know that infertility doesn't always have obvious symptoms.