When should I worry?

Even if you got pregnant after a week of trying the first time round, it’s worth bearing these facts in mind: If you have regular intercourse without protection 25 per cent will conceive in the first month, 60 per cent within six months, 75 per cent within nine months, 80 per cent within a year and 90 per cent within 18 months.

So if you are under 35 and have had regular intercourse (sex every two to three days) without protection for a year, it’s probably time to seek medical help.

If you are over 35, it is recommended that you seek medical advice after six months of trying. If you have experienced two or more miscarriages, have irregular or painful periods, or a burning vaginal discharge, make an appointment with a health or fertility expert. The same goes if your partner experiences a decreased sex drive, ejaculation problems or impotence.
Other common fertility problems can include: Ovulation problems, Endometriosis Pelvic Adhesions, Uterine Fibroids or Polyps.

It is perfectly normal for couples to take up to a year to conceive so don't worry too much if you are a few months in and nothing seems to be happening.

Are you having sex at the right times each month?
The time in which you have intercourse can have a huge bearing on getting pregnant or not, because your fertile window is made up of a few days each month when pregnancy is possible. Sperm can survive for a maximum of five days inside a woman and your ovum or egg survives for one day. This means that your fertile period is six days long comprised from five days before you ovulate and one day after. Pregnancy is possible on any one of these six days but your chances will increase if you have intercourse on the three days immediately leading up to and including your ovulation day. This means you have a practical fertile window of just three days.

Although there are signs you body is ovulating, see signs I am ovulating, like having a raised body temperature or experiencing a stickier, thicker vaginal discharge, it is very hard for women to predict when their fertile days are. Some women feel a slight pain in one or the other of their ovaries and this can also indicate that an egg is being released and ovulation is about to occur. It can still be difficult for many women to tell the exact days they ovulate on.

With this in mind, why not let our Ovulation calculator lend a helping hand and do the maths for you. All you have to know is the date of the first day of your last monthly period and how long your cycle usually lasts for, (most women's cycles last for about 28 days). Our clever calculator will predict which days you are most likely to be fertile over the next year so you can book that weekend away!

Are you cutting down on caffeine and alchohol? Read our feature on caffeine and fertility to see how caffeine can affect your chances of falling pregnant.

Relax!
It's easier said than done, but many couples find that when they didn't concentrate obsessively on baby-making, body temperatures and fertile days and went away and relaxed, they fell pregnant! Getting away for a romantic weekend, drinking some wine and not thinking of sex as baby-making but good old fashioned sex can really increase your chances of falling pregnant.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.