This information is for general guidance only.

It does not replace advice from your GP or fertility specialist. Read more about our approach.

Trying to conceive: your complete UK guide

Working out the timing, knowing what helps and what does not, and knowing when to seek advice. This guide covers all of it, with a quick tool to preview your fertile window. For a fuller cycle view, use the ovulation calculator. Remember to start taking folic acid before conception, and when the time is right, take a pregnancy test using first morning urine for the most reliable result.

When is my best time to try?

A quick preview of your fertile window. Use our full ovulation calculator for a cycle-by-cycle view.

A quick reassurance

Trying to conceive is an exciting time, but it can also bring real anxiety when things do not happen as quickly as you hoped. For most people, it does take time, and that is completely normal.

If you are under 40 and having regular unprotected sex, there is roughly an 8 in 10 chance of conceiving within one year. Not conceiving in the first few months is not a sign something is wrong.

How long does it take to get pregnant?

30%

conceive within the first month

75%

conceive within 6 months

90%

conceive within 12 months

95%

conceive within 18 months

After 12 months without success (or 6 months if you are over 35), see your GP. Not conceiving in the first few months is very common and does not mean anything is wrong.

Understanding your fertile window

Ovulation usually occurs 12 to 16 days before your next period. For a 28-day cycle that is typically around day 14; for a 35-day cycle, around day 21. Sperm can survive up to 5 days in the reproductive tract, while an egg survives only 12 to 24 hours after release. So your fertile window is roughly 6 days, the 5 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.

Best days to try: the 2 to 3 days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself give the highest chance of conception.

Frequency: NHS advice is to have sex every 2 to 3 days throughout the month rather than trying to time ovulation precisely. Sperm is always present, stress stays lower, and you do not end up treating intimacy as a scheduled task.

Ovulation signs

A slight rise in basal body temperature (BBT) after ovulation
Clear, stretchy “egg white” cervical mucus around ovulation
A brief one-sided pelvic twinge (mittelschmerz)
A positive ovulation predictor kit (OPK), usually 24 to 36 hours before ovulation

Tips to maximise your chances

For her

Start taking folic acid 400mcg daily now, before conception
Aim for a healthy pre-pregnancy BMI of 18.5 to 24.9
Stop smoking — smoking reduces fertility significantly
Reduce alcohol to nil or minimal
Limit caffeine to under 200mg a day (roughly one coffee)
Manage any underlying health conditions (thyroid, PCOS, diabetes)
Very high-intensity exercise can disrupt ovulation; moderate instead
Watch cervical mucus changes to help identify fertile days
Consider a pre-conception check with your GP if you have health concerns

For him (partner fertility matters equally)

Sperm health accounts for around half of fertility issues
Reduce alcohol consumption
Stop smoking
Avoid tight underwear (raises scrotal temperature)
Avoid saunas, hot tubs, and regular laptop use on the lap
Eat zinc-rich foods (oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds) or take a zinc supplement
Include antioxidants: vitamins C and E, selenium
Maintain a healthy weight, as obesity reduces sperm quality
Avoid anabolic steroids; they severely impair sperm production

Understanding your cycle

If no fertilisation, the period starts again around day 28.
If fertilisation happens, implantation occurs around 6 to 12 days after ovulation, hCG rises, and the period does not arrive.
This is an idealised 28-day cycle. Most cycles are between 21 and 35 days, all within the normal range.

Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs)

How they work: they detect the LH (luteinising hormone) surge in urine, which triggers ovulation within 24 to 36 hours.

When to start testing: a few days before expected ovulation. For a 28-day cycle, around day 10 or 11. For longer or irregular cycles, start around (cycle length - 17).

How to read them: a positive is when the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line. Digital versions show a clear smiley face.

Best time to test: early to mid-afternoon. Unlike pregnancy tests, first morning urine is not ideal for LH testing.

When to see your GP

See your GP if any of the following apply:

You have been trying for 12 months without success (if under 35)
You have been trying for 6 months without success (if 35 or over)
You have very irregular or absent periods
You have had a previous sexually transmitted infection
You have had surgery on your fallopian tubes or uterus
Your partner has a known fertility issue
You have been diagnosed with PCOS or endometriosis

Your GP can

Check your rubella immunity and offer vaccination if needed
Check your thyroid function
Refer you for an ovarian reserve test (AMH blood test)
Refer your partner for semen analysis
Refer you to a specialist fertility clinic if appropriate

Fertility investigations: what to expect

For women

Day 2-5 FSH/LH blood tests
AMH (ovarian reserve) blood test
Pelvic ultrasound
Day 21 progesterone (confirms ovulation)
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check tube patency

For men

Semen analysis (count, motility, morphology)
Repeat semen analysis after 3 months if abnormal
Referral to urology or fertility specialist if issues found

NHS funding for IVF varies by Integrated Care Board (ICB). NICE recommends 3 cycles of IVF for women under 40 who have been unable to conceive after 2 years of regular unprotected sex, but actual availability differs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you conceive through IVF, use our IVF due date calculator for accurate dating.

Looking after yourself while trying

Infertility affects around 1 in 7 couples in the UK. The emotional weight is real and often underestimated. Feeling anxious, sad or isolated is a completely valid response, not a sign you are not coping.

Support is available from Fertility Network UK (fertilitynetworkuk.org), Tommy's (tommys.org) and Relate (relate.org.uk) for relationship support.

Looking after yourself means taking breaks from obsessing over timing, maintaining the other parts of your life, and staying connected with your partner and friends.

Full ovulation and fertile window calculator→ When to take a pregnancy test→ Folic acid and pre-conception vitamins→ Calculate your due date once pregnant→

A note from our team

This guide reflects NHS UK and NICE guidance on trying to conceive. Your GP is the best person to discuss your individual situation, especially if you have health conditions or have been trying for some time. Read more about us.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know when I am ovulating?

Signs include a slight rise in basal body temperature (about 0.2 to 0.5°C) after ovulation, cervical mucus that becomes clear and stretchy like raw egg white, and sometimes a brief one-sided pelvic twinge (mittelschmerz). Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) detect the LH surge that triggers ovulation, usually 24 to 36 hours in advance. For a 28-day cycle, ovulation typically occurs around day 14.

Does having sex every day help you conceive?

Not necessarily. The NHS advises having sex every 2 to 3 days throughout the cycle, rather than trying to time ovulation exactly. This keeps sperm present in the reproductive tract for the full fertile window and tends to be less stressful. Daily sex does not harm sperm quality for most men and is fine if that is what you prefer.

Does stress affect fertility?

Very high, sustained stress can occasionally affect ovulation and cycle regularity, but everyday stress does not prevent most people from conceiving. What matters more is looking after your physical and mental health overall. If trying to conceive is itself becoming a major source of stress, that is worth talking about with your partner, GP or a counsellor.

Can I conceive with irregular periods?

Yes, though it can be harder to predict ovulation. Irregular cycles can indicate conditions like PCOS or thyroid imbalance, which are treatable. If your cycles are consistently under 21 days, over 35 days, or wildly variable, see your GP to investigate before trying for long. Ovulation predictor kits and cycle tracking apps can help identify your pattern.

When should I start taking folic acid?

At least one month before you start trying to conceive, and continue for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The standard dose is 400mcg daily. Some people (including those with diabetes, a BMI over 30, epilepsy medication, or a previous pregnancy affected by neural tube defects) need 5mg on prescription from a GP.

What is the two-week wait?

The two-week wait (TWW) is the roughly 14 days between ovulation and when you can reliably take a pregnancy test. Symptoms during the TWW are notoriously unreliable because early pregnancy and late luteal phase symptoms look very similar. The most accurate approach is to test with your first morning urine from the day of your missed period.