# Trying to Conceive UK — Window, Prep & Getting Help | Clever Mum > A practical guide to trying to conceive — timing your fertile window, what to prepare before you start trying, and when it is worth seeing a GP. * [ Home ](/) * › [ Pregnancy ](/pregnancy/) * › Trying to Conceive: How to Improve Your Chances Pregnancy # Trying to Conceive: How to Improve Your Chances [ CP ](/authors/parenting-desk/) By [ Clever Mum Parenting ](/authors/parenting-desk/) · Parenting guides Published 11 July 2026 Quick answer — How often should we have sex when trying to conceive? Most couples conceive within a year of trying — about 1 in 3 in the first month, roughly 84% within 12 months. The single biggest lever is timing: your fertile window is the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself. Start 400mcg folic acid before conceiving, and see your GP after a year trying (6 months if you are 36 or over) or sooner if you have a known reproductive health condition. Who should skip this Skip this if you are already under a fertility clinic plan — follow that. Skip it if you have been trying for less than a few cycles and only wanted a due-date tool. 3 minute read · Sources linked below On this page — jump to a section ## Choose a section * [ 1 What actually matters most when trying to conceive? ](#what-actually-matters-most-when-trying-to-conceive) * [ 2 How do you know you are approaching ovulation? ](#how-do-you-know-you-are-approaching-ovulation) * [ 3 What should you do before you start trying? ](#what-should-you-do-before-you-start-trying) * [ 4 When is it worth seeing your GP about fertility? ](#when-is-it-worth-seeing-your-gp-about-fertility) Trying to conceive is often more of a waiting game than people expect — and that wait is completely normal for most couples. Understanding the mechanics helps you focus effort where it actually counts, rather than everywhere at once. ## What actually matters most when trying to conceive? An egg survives for roughly 12-24 hours after ovulation, but sperm can survive in the body for up to 5 days. That means your genuine "fertile window" is the 5 days before ovulation plus the day of ovulation itself — having sex every 2-3 days across this window (or just every 2-3 days throughout your cycle, which achieves the same thing without needing to pinpoint the exact day) gives you the best chance each month. Ovulation typically happens around 14 days *before* your next period starts — not 14 days after the last one, which is a common mix-up for anyone with a longer or shorter cycle than the "textbook" 28 days. Our [ovulation calculator](/tools/ovulation-calculator/) maps this from your own cycle length. ## How do you know you are approaching ovulation? * Egg-white-like, stretchy cervical mucus * A small rise in basal body temperature just after ovulation (useful for tracking patterns over a few cycles, less useful for predicting the day itself) * Mild one-sided pelvic twinge for some people ("mittelschmerz") * Ovulation predictor kits (urine tests, from pharmacies) detect the LH hormone surge 24-36 hours before ovulation, and are the most precise home method ## What should you do before you start trying? * **Start folic acid (400 micrograms daily)** ideally before you conceive, and continue until 12 weeks — it reduces the risk of neural tube defects, which form very early, often before a positive test. * **Take a vitamin D supplement (10 micrograms daily)** — recommended for everyone in the UK, pregnancy included. * **Review any regular medication** with a GP or pharmacist — some aren't suitable in pregnancy and need switching in advance. * **Get to a healthy BMI where possible** — both very low and very high BMI can affect fertility and are more straightforward to address before conceiving than during pregnancy. * **Cut back alcohol and stop smoking** — the safest approach when trying to conceive is no alcohol at all, since you won't know you're pregnant for the first few weeks. * **Reduce caffeine** to under 200mg a day (roughly two mugs of instant coffee) — the same limit as pregnancy itself. ## When is it worth seeing your GP about fertility? * You've been trying for **12 months** with regular unprotected sex, and you're under 36 * You've been trying for **6 months**, and you're 36 or over * You have known irregular or absent periods, endometriosis, PCOS, previous pelvic surgery or infections, or a partner with known fertility concerns — see a GP sooner, don't wait out the standard timeframe * Either partner has had chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a previous fertility diagnosis A GP referral for basic fertility investigations (hormone blood tests, semen analysis) is available on the NHS and is a completely normal, common step — most people who need it don't need anything more elaborate than diagnosing a straightforward, treatable cause. Tracking tools take the guesswork out of the window: our [ovulation calculator](/tools/ovulation-calculator/) maps your fertile days from your cycle dates, and [WorldCalculators' ovulation tool](https://worldcalculators.org/calculators/ovulation/) makes a quick second opinion when you want one. ## What questions come up most? How often should we have sex when trying to conceive? Every 2-3 days throughout your cycle gives good coverage of your fertile window without needing to track ovulation precisely. If you want to target it more closely, aim for the 5 days before ovulation and ovulation day itself, using an ovulation calculator or predictor kits to identify that window. Does age really affect fertility that much? Fertility declines gradually from the early 30s and more noticeably after 35, for both age-related egg quantity/quality reasons and a higher chance of underlying health conditions. This is why the NHS recommends seeking help after 6 months (rather than 12) if you are 36 or over — earlier investigation leaves more options open. Should I stop taking contraception and folic acid supplements at the same time? The opposite — start folic acid before you stop contraception if you can, since neural tube development happens very early, often before you know you're pregnant. There's no need to "detox" from contraception first; most people can start trying as soon as they stop, though it may take a cycle or two for your normal pattern to return after some methods. ## Sources & further reading * [ Trying to get pregnant ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/trying-to-get-pregnant/) — NHS * [ Fertility problems and treatment ](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/) — NHS ## On this page * [ 1 What actually matters most when trying to conceive? ](#what-actually-matters-most-when-trying-to-conceive) * [ 2 How do you know you are approaching ovulation? ](#how-do-you-know-you-are-approaching-ovulation) * [ 3 What should you do before you start trying? ](#what-should-you-do-before-you-start-trying) * [ 4 When is it worth seeing your GP about fertility? ](#when-is-it-worth-seeing-your-gp-about-fertility) ## At a glance Conceive within 1 year ~84% of couples Fertile window 5 days pre-ovulation + ovulation day Folic acid 400mcg daily, before conceiving See GP after 1 year (6 months if 36+) Our promise Health-adjacent points cite NHS or equivalent guidance. This article is general information, not medical advice — see our [editorial policy](/editorial-policy/). ## Keep reading [ Pregnancy ### How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant? What's Normal Realistic statistics on how long it typically takes to conceive, what affects the timeline, and clear NHS guidance on when it is worth seeking help. ](/pregnancy/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-pregnant/)[ Pregnancy ### Early Pregnancy Symptoms: What You Might Notice Before You Test The early pregnancy symptoms some people notice before a missed period, why they overlap heavily with PMS, and why a test is the only reliable way to know. ](/pregnancy/early-pregnancy-symptoms-before-a-test/)