Before you try
NICHD lists these steps before trying to get pregnant:[1]
- take folic acid;[1]
- plan your reproductive life with a provider;[1]
- eat well and stay active;[1]
- get conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, seizure disorders and PKU under control;[1]
- avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs;[1]
- work toward a healthy weight;[1]
- review your family history and consider genetic counseling;[1]
- address mental health early.[1]
The US Preventive Services Task Force advises a daily supplement with 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 mcg) of folic acid, starting at least 1 month before conception and continuing through the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy.[2]
When you are most fertile
OWH says there are about 6 days in each menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant, called the fertile window.[3] It says fertile windows differ between women, and from month to month in the same woman.[3]
OWH says the average cycle is 28 days, and normal cycles range from 21 to 35 days.[4] It says a period comes 14 to 16 days after ovulation unless pregnancy occurs.[4]
OWH says sperm can survive up to about 3 days.[4]
How long it can take
ACOG says healthy couples in their 20s or early 30s have about a 25 to 30 percent chance of pregnancy in any single cycle.[5] It says the chance declines from the early 30s, faster after 37, and is less than 10 percent per cycle by 40.[5]
What can affect fertility
ACOG says being underweight or overweight, exercising to excess, moderate to heavy drinking and smoking can lower a woman's fertility.[5] It says smoking, heavy drinking and marijuana can lower sperm count and movement.[5]
ACOG says the most common causes of infertility are problems with ovulation in women and problems with sperm in men, and sometimes no cause is found.[5]
When to see a doctor
OWH says to see a doctor after 1 year of frequent sex without birth control if you are under 35.[4] It says to see a doctor after 6 months if you are 35 or older.[4]
MedlinePlus says infertility means not becoming pregnant after 1 year or more of frequent unprotected sex, or 6 months for women 35 and older.[6]
Questions families ask
How long does it usually take to get pregnant?
ACOG says healthy couples in their 20s or early 30s have about a 25 to 30 percent chance of pregnancy in any single cycle.[5] It says the chance declines from the early 30s, faster after 37, and is less than 10 percent per cycle by 40.[5]
When am I most fertile?
OWH says there are about 6 days in each menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant, called the fertile window.[3] It says a period comes 14 to 16 days after ovulation unless pregnancy occurs.[4]
Should I take folic acid before trying?
The US Preventive Services Task Force advises a daily supplement with 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 mcg) of folic acid, starting at least 1 month before conception and continuing through the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy.[2]
Free from UpOnly Learning. Written for families of every faith. No outside ads and no affiliate links. Every fact on this page comes from the sources listed below. How we source and review these pages
Updated 2026-10-24: first published.
Sources
All sources were opened and checked on the date shown.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH). Can you promote a healthy pregnancy before getting pregnant?. Checked October 24, 2026.
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Preventive Medication. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Office on Women's Health (HHS). Ovulation calculator. Checked October 24, 2026.
- Office on Women's Health (HHS). Trying to conceive. Checked October 24, 2026.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Evaluating Infertility. Checked October 24, 2026.
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Infertility. Checked October 24, 2026.