Just over a third of healthy couples will conceive in the first month of trying1. If you're under 35 and in good health, it's perfectly natural for it to take up to 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).
While some couples may conceive the very first month they try, most will take a bit longer, with roughly 75% conceiving within six months.
While there are certainly couples who get pregnant after trying just one time, the reality is that most couples do not conceive right away. About 80 percent of couples get pregnant after six months of trying; roughly 90 percent of couples will conceive after a full year of trying.
It's normal to not get pregnant right away. More than half of healthy couples get pregnant within the first 6 months of trying. This can be hard to accept when all you want is to start or grow your family, I understand. But sometimes getting pregnant just takes a little patience.
45% of young couples (under 35) will conceive after three cycles of unprotected sex. 65% of couples conceive after six cycles of unprotected sex. 85% of couples will conceive within the first year of regular unprotected sex.
After having your first baby, you might think that getting pregnant a second will happen just as easily, but that's not always true. While many couples have no problem conceiving the second time around, millions of couples struggle with secondary infertility, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
In general, healthy couples have a 20 percent to 25 percent chance of getting pregnant during each monthly cycle, assuming you're having sex regularly and without contraception. ("Regularly" is considered two to three times a week.)
Because fertility declines with age, it's possible – and even expected – for women who had no trouble getting pregnant with their first child to struggle to conceive the second time around when they are older and less fertile.
That said, the majority of couples will conceive within 1 year of trying. It is possible but less common to conceive in the first month or within 6 months. A couple looking to conceive should track ovulation and have regular vaginal intercourse in the days leading up to ovulation.
Have sex regularly. The highest pregnancy rates occur in couples who have sex every day or every other day. Have sex near the time of ovulation. If having sex every day isn't possible — or enjoyable — have sex every 2 to 3 days a week starting soon after the end of your period.
If you are ovulating but not getting pregnant, the cause is may be polycystic ovaries (PCO). Again it is not uncommon, since around 20% of women have the condition.
It can take a while to get pregnant the second or third time around, even if it happened very quickly the last time.
You could be worrying that you never will. 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.
Risk factors
These include: age – fertility declines with age. weight – being overweight or obese (having a BMI of 30 or over) reduces fertility; in women, being overweight or severely underweight can affect ovulation. sexually transmitted infections (STIs) – several STIs, including chlamydia, can affect fertility.
Look for changes in your vaginal fluids that occur around cycle days eight to 14 (the days leading to ovulation, assuming a 28-day cycle). Ideally, you want to see a clear, slippery fluid that resembles raw egg whites (this is caused by the increased estrogen levels mid-cycle).
If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives like clockwork, it's likely that you'll ovulate on day 14. That's halfway through your cycle. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You're more likely to get pregnant if you have sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Experts say the best way to get pregnant fast is to have sex once a day, every other day, during the fertile window right before and after ovulation. If you have sex too often, your partner's sperm count may be reduced—and if you don't have enough sex, the sperm may be old and unable to swim as fast.
Irregular period cycle and difficulty conceiving
If you are facing issues conceiving and have not been able to conceive for a while now, it could be one of the signs of bad egg quality.
There's no evidence to show that any sleeping position is better than any other for embryo implantation. The embryo is transferred when your womb is ready, when the lining is soft and thick and ideal for an embryo to implant. You can lie however you like – just get comfy.
Certain lifestyle habits may create an environment that supports implantation. This includes eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and checking your progesterone. Progesterone medications are often prescribed for women undergoing IVF treatments. This increases the chances of successful implantation.
Avoid having a drink, smoking, or any other activity that could be harmful to a brand new pregnancy. It's fine to continue exercising if you already have a workout routine, but now might not be the time to take up a new, intense form of exercise.
The main cause of poor egg quality is age, but it is not the only one; there can be other reasons too, including but not limited to pelvic radiation, ovarian surgery, any reproductive illness, genetic abnormalities, chemotherapy, excess consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and some unknown factors.