Author: Dr Irfana Koita  |  Published: 2 November 2025

Struggling to Conceive? How to Get Pregnant Faster in the UK

If you are struggling to conceive, you are not alone. Infertility affects approximately 1 in 7 couples in the UK, and in around 40% of those cases, contributing factors are found in both partners (NICE CG156). Even healthy couples with no underlying issues have just a 20 to 25% chance of conceiving in any given menstrual cycle, which means months of trying before a positive test is completely normal. Understanding how to get pregnant faster starts with knowing what actually influences conception, when to seek professional help, and which investigations can identify treatable causes of delay.

Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant? Common Reasons for Delay

According to NICE clinical guidelines, the main categories of infertility break down as follows: male factor accounts for approximately 30% of cases, ovulatory disorders for 25%, tubal damage for 20%, uterine or peritoneal conditions for 10%, and unexplained infertility for the remaining 25% (NICE CG156). In practice, many couples have overlapping factors, so both partners should be investigated.

The most frequent barriers to conception include:

• Ovulation disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothalamic dysfunction, which disrupt or prevent regular egg release

• Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, often resulting from previous infections, surgery, or endometriosis

• Male factor infertility, including low sperm count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology

• Age-related fertility decline, particularly after 35, when both egg quality and quantity decrease more rapidly

• Thyroid conditions, which can interfere with ovulation even when cycles appear regular

• Endometriosis, where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, affecting egg quality and implantation

• Uterine abnormalities such as fibroids or polyps that may prevent implantation

If you have been wondering "why am I not getting pregnant" after several months of well-timed intercourse, it is worth noting that the NHS defines infertility as failure to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. For women aged 36 and over, NICE recommends earlier referral after 6 months (NHS).

How to Get Pregnant Faster: Evidence-Based Natural Strategies

Improving your chances largely comes down to optimising the factors within your control. Research consistently shows that timing, nutrition, and lifestyle adjustments can meaningfully improve conception rates per cycle.

Track Your Ovulation Window

The fertile window spans approximately six days: the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Having intercourse every two to three days throughout your cycle removes the need for precise timing, but tracking ovulation with predictor kits or basal body temperature can help you identify your most fertile days. A 2023 Cochrane review of timed intercourse found that while awareness of the fertile window helps couples focus their efforts, regular intercourse throughout the cycle remains the simplest effective strategy (Cochrane, 2023).

Nutrition and Supplementation

• Folic acid: The NHS recommends 400 micrograms daily for all women trying to conceive. Folic acid supplementation reduces the risk of neural tube defects by about 70% and should ideally start at least three months before conception (USPSTF reaffirmation, JAMA 2023).

• A balanced diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats supports hormonal balance

• Omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish may support egg and sperm quality

• Limit caffeine to 200mg per day (roughly two cups of coffee), as recommended by the NHS

Lifestyle Modifications

• Maintain a healthy BMI between 19 and 25. Being significantly underweight or overweight can disrupt ovulation. NICE guidelines state that women with a BMI over 30 should be informed that losing weight is likely to increase their chance of conception.

• Stop smoking: smoking affects both egg and sperm quality and can reduce fertility in both partners

• Limit alcohol: the NHS advises avoiding alcohol entirely when trying to conceive

• Exercise moderately: regular physical activity supports fertility, but excessive intense exercise can suppress ovulation

Male Partner Optimisation

• Avoid tight underwear, hot baths, and laptops on laps, as elevated scrotal temperature affects sperm production

• Maintain a healthy weight and stop smoking

• Limit alcohol intake

• Consider a multivitamin containing zinc and selenium, which support sperm health

When to Seek Help if You Are Struggling to Conceive 

If you have been trying to conceive for 12 months without success through regular unprotected intercourse, NICE recommends that your GP refer both partners for initial fertility assessment. Women aged 36 and over should be referred after 6 months. Earlier investigation is recommended if there is a known cause of infertility or a history of factors that may affect fertility, such as previous chemotherapy, absent or very irregular periods, or known pelvic conditions (NICE NG257).

You should also seek earlier advice if:

• Your periods are irregular, very heavy, or absent

• You or your partner have a known medical condition affecting fertility

• You have had previous pelvic surgery or ectopic pregnancy

• You are over 40, in which case NICE recommends immediate referral without waiting

What Fertility Tests Should You Expect?

When you see your GP or fertility specialist, a structured set of investigations helps identify or rule out common causes of delay. NICE guidelines recommend completing initial investigations for both partners at the same time, rather than testing one partner first and waiting for results before investigating the other.

Fertility Tests for Women

Hormone blood tests are usually the first step. These typically include:

• AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone): measures ovarian reserve and indicates remaining egg supply. AMH is not affected by the menstrual cycle and can be tested on any day, making it one of the most practical initial assessments available.

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): measured on day 2 to 5 of the menstrual cycle. Elevated FSH may indicate reduced ovarian reserve.

• LH (Luteinising Hormone): helps assess ovulation patterns and detect conditions such as PCOS

• Progesterone: measured in the mid-luteal phase (approximately day 21 of a 28-day cycle) to confirm whether ovulation has occurred

• Thyroid function and prolactin: both can disrupt ovulation when abnormal

Imaging tests may include:

• Pelvic ultrasound: to check the ovaries, uterus, and antral follicle count

• HyCoSy (Hysterosalpingo Contrast Sonography): an ultrasound-based test to check whether the fallopian tubes are open, available at IVF Matters as an outpatient procedure

Fertility Tests for Men

Semen analysis is the primary fertility test for men and should be offered early in the investigation process. The WHO 2021 laboratory manual sets the following lower reference limits based on data from approximately 3,500 fertile men: sperm concentration of 16 million per mL, total sperm count of 39 million per ejaculate, total motility of 42%, progressive motility of 30%, and normal morphology of 4% (WHO Laboratory Manual, 6th edition). 

How to Conceive: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

Step 1: Start three months before you plan to try. Begin folic acid, review medications with your GP, update vaccinations (particularly rubella), and address any lifestyle factors such as smoking or weight.

Step 2: Have regular intercourse. NICE recommends having intercourse every two to three days throughout your cycle. You do not need to time intercourse precisely to your ovulation day.

Step 3: Track your cycles. Note the length and regularity of your periods. Irregular cycles (shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days) may indicate ovulation problems and are worth discussing with your GP early.

Step 4: After 6 to 12 months without success, request baseline blood tests and semen analysis. Ask your GP for blood tests (AMH, FSH, progesterone, thyroid) and a semen analysis for your partner. These baseline results will determine whether you need a specialist referral.

Step 5: Consider specialist assessment. A fertility consultant can arrange advanced testing such as HyCoSy, detailed ultrasound, or additional hormone panels to identify causes that GP-level tests may miss.

When Unexplained Infertility Is the Diagnosis

Around 1 in 4 couples in the UK receive a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, meaning that standard investigations have not identified a specific cause (NHS). This does not mean nothing is wrong. It means current testing has not found the reason. Possible contributing factors include subtle egg quality issues, sperm DNA fragmentation not captured by standard semen analysis, or uterine receptivity problems that are difficult to measure with routine investigations.

For couples with unexplained infertility, NICE recommends trying naturally for up to two years before offering IVF, provided the woman is under 40. However, this timeline should be adjusted based on age and individual circumstances. Many fertility specialists now recommend not waiting the full two years if the woman is over 35, given the sharper decline in fertility after this age.

Treatment options for unexplained infertility typically include:

• Continued natural conception with lifestyle optimisation

• Ovulation induction with medication such as clomiphene or letrozole

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

• In vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

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