Well, contrary to what you may think, conceiving could take longer or shorter then expected. This depends on different variables, including your health, fertility, weather or not you are/were taking birth control pills, etc.

If you are on the pill and are planning to get pregnant, this is the time to stop taking them. It may be a few months before you conceive, for your body needs some time to cleanse itself from the hormones before it is ready for a pregnancy. So take that into consideration, but remember there is no guarantee either way.

It will be a year of actively trying unsuccessfully to conceive before a doctor will see you for an infertility consultation. One thing you will be asked (obviously) is how often you… have sex, and when in relations to your menstrual period (timing is everything!). You are not ovulating every day. Learn about your cycle to have a better understanding of when is the best time to conceive.

It goes without saying that you need to have sex in order to conceive. Once or twice a month can work for the extremely fertile (or lucky), but will not do the trick for most woman. Yes, it does take one successful and well timed try, but since we often don’t know when the exact time of ovulation is, it may take many tries (men usually don’t mind having to try more oftenJ).

Most fertility specialists will recommend to actively start trying 10 days after the first day or your period. Some say everyday, others recommend every other day (to allow for a higher sperm count). Whichever recommendation you receive, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember that stress alone can affect your body and mind.

Most couples will get pregnant within 12-18 months of actively trying. Be true to yourselves about how long you really have been trying and do not panic if it has been a while. Speak to your OB/GYN and ask for a referral to a fertility specialist. Sometimes you just need a little help to get there.