Trying to Conceive: The Complete Fertility Guide

Conception is only possible for about six days each cycle: the five days leading up to ovulation plus ovulation day itself. That's because sperm can survive in the body for up to ~5 days, while an egg lives for only ~12-24 hours after release. Time sex to that window and you maximise your chances.

If your cycles are regular, ovulation is roughly 14 days before your next period (so day 14 of a 28-day cycle — but this varies). Several methods help you pinpoint it; combining a couple is most reliable.

• Calendar/cycle tracking — useful if your cycles are regular; less so if they're irregular.
• Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) — detect the LH surge ~24-36 hours before ovulation. A positive means 'fertile now'.
• Cervical mucus — becomes clear, stretchy and slippery (like raw egg white) around ovulation.
• Basal body temperature (BBT) — rises slightly after ovulation, confirming it happened (better for spotting your pattern than predicting in real time).

For the egg side

• Start folic acid 400 mcg daily (5 mg if you have diabetes, BMI over 30, epilepsy medication, or a previous neural-tube defect) plus vitamin D 10 mcg — ideally 3 months before conceiving.
• Aim for a healthy weight (both very high and very low BMI affect fertility), eat a balanced diet, and keep active.
• Stop smoking, minimise alcohol, and keep caffeine moderate.
• Get up to date on cervical screening and check rubella immunity; review any medications with your GP.

For the sperm side

Sperm takes ~3 months to mature, so partners' habits matter too: stop smoking, moderate alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, avoid excess heat (hot tubs, laptops on the lap), and eat well. These changes can meaningfully improve sperm quality over a few months.

Even with perfect timing, conception is a numbers game each cycle. For most healthy couples it takes a few months, and that's completely normal — not a sign anything is wrong.

• About 8 in 10 couples conceive within 1 year of regular unprotected sex, and around 9 in 10 within 2 years.
• Per-cycle chances are highest in your 20s to early 30s (roughly 1 in 4 at best) and decline gradually from the mid-30s, more steeply after 40.
• Age affects both egg quantity/quality and miscarriage risk — relevant context if you're planning, but not a reason to panic.

Initial checks are simple — bloods to confirm ovulation and check hormones for you, a semen analysis for your partner, and sometimes a scan. Many causes are treatable, and your GP can refer you to fertility services if needed.