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How long will it take to conceive?

It has been documented that most couples will conceive within two years if they do not use contraception and have regular sex. Regular sex increases your chances of conceiving and means making love every two to three days throughout your cycle.

There are of course some couples who cannot conceive within two years. If you are over 35 and keep on trying for another year you may still get pregnant but in the next few years your chances of conceiving start to fall.

It’s important to seek help for infertility treatment sooner rather than later if you are over 35 years of age and finding that positive pregnancy test elusive. It is recommended that most couples try for at least a year before seeking help, but if you are over 35 and having problems conceiving, you should seek help earlier than this. As women get older, there are a number of factors that can make it more difficult to conceive. As we age, our general health can decline. Existing conditions may worsen or new illnesses may develop, which can also have an impact on fertility. Fertility factors that change, as we grow older, include:

• Less functioning follicles left on the ovaries, less eggs for fertilisation to take place.
• Irregular and shorter menstrual cycle.
• Thinner lining of the womb.
• Vaginal secretions can become less fluid and more hostile to sperm.
• Diseases affecting the reproductive system.
• Chronic illnesses.