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Find out about the things you can do to prepare for pregnancy and when you should go to the GP for advice.
Before you start trying for a baby, it's recommended you:
If you have any worries about getting pregnant – for example, if you've had treatment for cancer or you have a health condition – talk to your GP about planning a pregnancy.
Find out about health conditions and planning a pregnancy on the Tommy's website
There are things you can do before you start and while you're trying to get pregnant.
Things that can help improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby include:
Being overweight in pregnancy can increase the risk of complications like high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and blood clots. It's possible to reduce these risks, and your maternity team will support you throughout your pregnancy to help keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.
Do not stop taking any prescribed medicine until you've talked to your GP or specialist. They'll be able to discuss the safest treatment option for you while you're trying to get pregnant.
The time it takes to get pregnant is different for everyone. Different things can affect your chance of getting pregnant, such as:
If you're aged 39 or under and have sex without contraception every 2 to 3 days, it's likely you'll get pregnant within a year.
If you're aged 39 or under and using artificial insemination (where sperm is put directly in the womb), it may take 6 to 12 rounds of treatment to get pregnant.
You're more likely to get pregnant around the time you ovulate (release an egg). This is usually about 14 days before the start of your next period but depends on how long your menstrual cycle is.
Find out more about periods and fertility in the menstrual cycle
Get support and advice on starting a family if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or non-binary:
If it's taking longer than expected to get pregnant, talk to your GP. They may refer you and your partner (if you have one) for tests.
If tests find a fertility issue, you may be offered medicine, surgery, IVF (in vitro fertilisation) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) depending on the cause.
Find out more about infertility
Content last reviewed by the NHS: 01 June 2029
Content last collected from the NHS: 04 September 2026
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