How long will it take to get pregnant?

In general, a fertile couple has a good chance of getting pregnant within a year, as out of 100 couples trying to conceive naturally: 

• 20 will conceive within one month
• 70 will conceive within six months
• 85 will conceive within one year
• 90 will conceive within 18 months
• 95 will conceive within two years

Bear in mind that these statistics are only averages. Some couples have a high monthly fertility. This means that they have a higher than average chance of getting pregnant within any given month. They are likely to fall pregnant quickly, probably within a few months. 

Other couples have a low monthly fertility. This means that they have a lower than average chance of getting pregnant within any given month. They are likely to take longer to get pregnant. 

Taking up to two years to get pregnant is normal for some couples. It may feel far from normal if it's happening to you. But it doesn't necessarily mean you have a fertility problem. About half of the couples who don't get pregnant within a year will conceive the following year, if they keep trying. 

What could improve my chances of getting pregnant?

Make sure that you and your partner are in tip-top baby-making condition. But having regular, unprotected sex is the key. Aim to make love every two or three days rather than every day, as daily sex can reduce the quality of sperm. Experts agree that this approach optimises your chances of getting pregnant. 

You may have heard that it helps to pinpoint exactly when you are ovulating and to have sex then. There is, of course, truth in this technique. Your chances of getting pregnant are much higher on the days in your menstrual cycle when you're most fertile. 

However, fertility experts advise against using complicated techniques to detect ovulation and then timing your sex life to specific days each cycle. It can make trying for a baby more stressful than it needs to be. And your chances of conceiving won't be any higher than if you had sex every two or three days. 

Sometimes your work or lifestyle makes regular sex tricky. There are some simpler techniques you could try that won't take over your life. For example, you could get to know some of the more obvious signs that your body is approaching ovulation, such as increased cervical mucus. You can then try to ensure that you have sex at least once or twice when you're most fertile. 

In general, a more relaxed approach is recommended by fertility experts. Having unprotected sex every few days means that there will always be a supply of sperm in the right place whenever you ovulate. Simply taking it easy and enjoying your love life may be the best way to boost your chances.