Most doctors agree that you shouldn’t even begin to worry about infertility until you’ve been trying to conceive consistently for a year. Otherwise, it’s completely normal to spend many months “trying”—to no avail. It may seem like everybody else just pops up pregnant on the first try, but this is hardly the truth. Most couples try for months before a pregnancy occurs.

If you’re experiencing problems such as an irregular menstrual cycle, pain or an infection, you should consult your provider. If you or your partner have had a sexually transmitted disease or a chronic health issue, this may be what is affecting your fertility. If you have had problems with other pregnancies or if you have had previous miscarriages, you need to consult your provider. Women with endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome should talk to their doctor about conception problems immediately.

The best way for you to increase your chance of becoming pregnant is to make sure you have sex during your fertile time every month. Some factors that might make it more difficult for you to become pregnant include:

• Your age (and, to a lesser degree, the age of your partner)
• Timing (when you are having sex)
• Habits (for example, alcohol and smoking can interfere with fertility) for both you and your partner

Click below to read about related topics.

Introduction
Tips for Healthy Pre-Conception
Pre-pregnancy Nutrition
Predicting Your Fertility
Genetic Counseling
Problems with Conception