Trying to Conceive? What to Know in the First Few Months
From timing intercourse to taking pregnancy tests, here's what the research says about the first few months of trying for a baby, and why you don't need to have everything figured out right away.
Deciding to start trying for a baby can be an exciting milestone. But once you begin, it's not unusual to discover that the process comes with more questions than you expected. Are we timing things correctly? Should I be using ovulation tests? Is that cramping a pregnancy symptom? Why haven't I gotten pregnant yet?
Maybe you assumed pregnancy would happen immediately. Maybe you've already spent hours researching fertility tips, comparing symptoms, or wondering whether something is wrong. If any of this sounds familiar, you're certainly not alone.
At My Fertility Labs, we believe that understanding your body and knowing what to expect can make the early months of trying to conceive feel less overwhelming.
Here's what the science tells us about conception, timing, common concerns, and when it might be helpful to seek additional support.
1. Getting pregnant can take time, even when everything is healthy
One of the biggest misconceptions about trying to conceive is that pregnancy should happen immediately if both partners are healthy.
In reality, conception is a complex biological process involving ovulation, sperm health, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, and more. Each step needs to occur for a pregnancy to begin.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), approximately 80% of couples conceive within the first six months of trying. [1]
However, this is a population-level estimate, not a guarantee. Individual chances vary considerably depending on factors such as age, reproductive health, and the timing of intercourse.
Importantly, not becoming pregnant during your first, second, or third cycle does not automatically indicate a fertility problem.
What to remember: A negative pregnancy test after a few months can be disappointing, but it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
2. Timing matters, but you don't need to get it perfect
If you've started tracking ovulation, you might feel pressure to identify the exact day your egg is released.
Fortunately, conception doesn't depend on having intercourse at one precise moment.
Research has established that the fertile window includes approximately six days: the five days leading up to ovulation and the day ovulation occurs. [2]
This is because sperm can survive for several days under favourable conditions, while an egg remains capable of fertilization for approximately 12–24 hours after ovulation.
The highest chances of pregnancy are generally associated with intercourse during the one to two days before ovulation. [1]
How often should you have sex?
ASRM recommends intercourse every one to two days during the fertile window to maximize the chances of conception. However, having intercourse two to three times per week throughout your cycle can produce nearly comparable results. [1]
That means you don't necessarily need to track every hormonal change or plan intimacy around a strict schedule. For some people, ovulation tracking feels helpful and empowering. For others, it makes sex feel like another task on an already busy calendar. Both experiences are valid.
The goal is to find an approach that supports your chances of conception without making the process unnecessarily stressful.
3. Do you need ovulation tests right away?
Not necessarily.
If you have predictable menstrual cycles and regular intercourse, you may already be covering your fertile window without additional testing. However, ovulation predictor kits can be useful if you want to understand your timing more clearly. These urine tests detect a rise in luteinizing hormone (LH), which typically occurs shortly before ovulation.
A 2023 Cochrane review involving 2,464 women or couples found that using urinary ovulation tests to time intercourse probably improved pregnancy and live birth rates among women under 40 who had been trying for less than 12 months. [3] The authors also noted that some studies were funded by test manufacturers, and evidence about stress and quality of life was limited.
So, while ovulation tests can be helpful, they're tools and not requirements for getting pregnant. If tracking starts to create more anxiety than clarity, it's reasonable to simplify your approach.
Your cycle may be telling you more than when you're fertile
Tracking your cycle isn't only about identifying the best days to conceive. Your menstrual patterns can also provide useful information about reproductive health.
Changes in cycle length, bleeding, cervical mucus, and other symptoms may help you and your clinician recognize patterns that deserve a closer look.
For example, consistently irregular cycles can sometimes be associated with conditions affecting ovulation, such as PCOS, thyroid disorders, or disruptions in energy balance.
Keeping a record of these observations over several cycles can provide helpful context during a fertility assessment. However, no single symptom or cycle pattern can diagnose a hormonal condition on its own.
You don't need to chart every detail perfectly. Even a simple record of your periods, symptoms, and ovulation observations can help you become more familiar with your body.
4. The two-week wait: Why everything suddenly feels like a pregnancy symptom
The time between ovulation and your expected period is commonly called the two-week wait.
For many people, this is one of the most emotionally challenging parts of trying to conceive.
You may begin noticing every small change in your body:
Tender or swollen breasts
Mild cramping or pelvic sensations
Bloating
Fatigue
Mood changes
Changes in vaginal discharge
And naturally, you might wonder whether these are signs of pregnancy.
The difficulty is that many early pregnancy symptoms overlap with the symptoms you may normally experience before your period. After ovulation, progesterone rises whether or not conception has occurred. This hormone can contribute to breast tenderness, bloating, and other premenstrual symptoms.
If pregnancy occurs, hormonal changes continue, but symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish pregnancy from a typical luteal phase. Some people experience noticeable symptoms before a positive test. Others experience very few symptoms and still have a healthy pregnancy.
What to remember: Feeling pregnant doesn't confirm pregnancy, and feeling completely normal doesn't rule it out.
A pregnancy test taken at the appropriate time is more useful than trying to interpret individual symptoms.
5. When should you take a pregnancy test?
It can be tempting to test as early as possible, especially when you're excited or anxious about the outcome. But testing too early is one of the most common reasons for a negative result when pregnancy may actually have occurred.
Home pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced after an embryo implants. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hCG may be detectable in urine approximately 12–15 days after ovulation in a typical 28-day cycle. [4]
For most people, the first day of a missed period is a reasonable time to take a pregnancy test. Testing later can improve reliability. If you have irregular cycles or don't know when your period is due, the NHS recommends testing at least 21 days after the last episode of unprotected intercourse. [5]
What if your pregnancy test is negative but your period hasn't arrived?
There are several possible explanations, including:
You may have ovulated later than expected.
Your period may be delayed for another reason.
You may have tested before enough hCG was present to detect.
You may not be pregnant this cycle.
If your period hasn't arrived, repeat the test after a few days and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If your period remains absent or your cycles are repeatedly unpredictable, a healthcare professional can help determine whether further assessment is appropriate.
6. What does spotting mean when you're trying to conceive?
Spotting can be especially confusing when you're watching closely for signs of pregnancy.
You may have heard that light bleeding before your expected period means implantation has occurred. However, spotting is not a reliable sign of implantation or pregnancy.
In a prospective study published in Human Reproduction, researchers followed women trying to conceive and recorded bleeding patterns alongside hormone measurements. They found that early pregnancy bleeding sometimes occurred around the expected time of menstruation, but rarely on the actual day of implantation. The study did not support implantation as an established cause of bleeding. [6]
Spotting can have several explanations, including hormonal fluctuations, cervical irritation, or other reproductive health conditions. A small amount of spotting doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong, but it also doesn't confirm conception.
If you experience persistent spotting, bleeding after intercourse, or unusual bleeding patterns, it's worth discussing them with a healthcare professional. If you might be pregnant and experience significant abdominal pain, particularly on one side, shoulder-tip pain, severe dizziness, or fainting, seek urgent medical assessment because these can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy. [7]
7. What should you focus on during your first few months of trying?
It's easy to find online advice suggesting that you need a perfect diet, a collection of supplements, an elaborate tracking routine, or major lifestyle changes before conception can happen.
The evidence supports a simpler, more sustainable approach.
Start taking folic acid
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of folic acid for people who could become pregnant. Ideally, supplementation begins at least three months before conception. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects, which develop very early in pregnancy. Some people require a different dose based on medical history. [8]
Review your general health
A preconception appointment is an opportunity to review medications, chronic health conditions, immunizations, and any reproductive concerns. If you take prescription medications or supplements, don't stop them on your own. A healthcare professional can help assess what is appropriate when planning pregnancy. [9]
Nutrition and lifestyle matter, but fertility health isn't about perfection
Good nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits support overall reproductive and preconception health.
In some circumstances, factors such as inadequate energy intake, excessive exercise, or underlying metabolic conditions can disrupt normal ovulation. Identifying and addressing these issues may be an important part of reproductive care.
For example, in people with PCOS, guidelines emphasize healthy lifestyle habits and management of metabolic health as important components of care.
However, not every fertility challenge is caused by diet or lifestyle, and there is insufficient evidence that adding multiple supplements or following a restrictive fertility diet improves pregnancy rates for everyone.
A personalized approach can help you focus on the changes that are relevant to your health instead of following every fertility trend online.
Sperm health and male fertility are important too
When sperm is being contributed by a partner, their reproductive health matters too.
Sperm production and function can be influenced by medical conditions, medications, smoking, and other factors. Understanding fertility shouldn't place the responsibility entirely on the person who will carry the pregnancy, male fertility plays a key role too.
8. Common questions during the first few months of trying
"We've been trying for three months. Should I be worried?"
Not conceiving within three months is not, by itself, evidence of infertility. Many healthy couples take several cycles to become pregnant. However, it is reasonable to seek guidance sooner if you have known reproductive health concerns, significant symptoms, or questions about your cycles.
"We had sex on ovulation day. Why didn't I get pregnant?"
Ovulation and well-timed intercourse are important, but they don't guarantee that fertilization, embryo development, and implantation will all occur. Even in healthy couples, the chance of conception is less than 100% in any individual cycle.
Having sex before ovulation, rather than waiting until ovulation has already occurred, may help improve timing. [1,2]
"Can having sex too often reduce sperm count?"
For most couples, there is no reason to avoid daily or every-other-day intercourse during the fertile window out of concern that it will deplete healthy sperm.
ASRM reports that frequent ejaculation generally does not reduce the likelihood of pregnancy in couples without known sperm-related problems. [1]
"Do I need to lie down after sex or keep my legs elevated?"
No. Research does not support the idea that remaining lying down, elevating your legs, or using a particular sexual position increases the likelihood of conception. Sperm can begin moving through the reproductive tract shortly after ejaculation. [1] You can choose what feels comfortable without worrying about following a special post-intercourse routine.
"I'm really stressed about getting pregnant. Could that be preventing it?"
It's understandable to experience worry, anticipation, or disappointment when trying to conceive. Research on psychological stress and fertility is complex, and findings are not entirely consistent. ASRM notes that it is not clear whether stress itself prevents pregnancy or reduces the likelihood of conception. Managing stress may improve quality of life, but reducing stress is not an established treatment for infertility. [10]
So, while emotional support, rest, and activities you enjoy can be valuable, you do not need to achieve a perfectly relaxed state in order to conceive.
"I recently stopped birth control. Should my fertility return immediately?"
This depends on the method you were using. After stopping birth control pills or removing an IUD, fertility can return quickly, sometimes before your first regular period.
A systematic review of 22 studies involving 14,884 women found that previous contraceptive use generally did not negatively affect long-term fertility. [11] However, injectable contraception, such as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, can be associated with a longer delay before fertility returns. If your periods have not returned as expected, or you are uncertain about your personal circumstances, a healthcare professional can offer guidance.
"My ovulation tests never turn positive. Does that mean I'm not ovulating?"
Not necessarily. LH surges can be brief, and test timing, urine concentration, and differences between products may affect whether you detect one. A positive LH test also doesn't guarantee that ovulation occurs. If you're repeatedly unable to identify an LH surge, particularly alongside irregular or absent periods, it may be worth discussing ovulation assessment with a clinician. [12]
"Should I get my hormones tested after only a few months?"
Not everyone needs hormone testing when they first begin trying to conceive. However, testing may be useful if you have irregular periods, absent ovulation signs alongside cycle changes, symptoms of an endocrine condition, or other reproductive health concerns.
A thoughtful fertility assessment starts with your health history, cycle patterns, symptoms, and goals. From there, your clinician can determine whether bloodwork or other investigations would provide useful information.
Some hormone tests need to be timed to specific points in your menstrual cycle to be interpreted correctly.
At My Fertility Labs, our clinicians are trained in restorative reproductive medicine and consider your laboratory results alongside your broader reproductive and medical history. Testing is one part of understanding reproductive health—not a standalone prediction of whether pregnancy will happen.
It's also important to understand that a single hormone result cannot tell you whether you will or won't conceive naturally. Tests such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can provide information about ovarian reserve, but they are limited predictors of spontaneous pregnancy and should not be interpreted as a simple fertility score. [12] If you're considering testing, a clinician can help determine which results would be meaningful for your situation.
9. When should you seek fertility support?
One of the most common questions is whether you need to wait an entire year before asking for help. The answer depends on your circumstances.
According to ASRM's updated 2026 guidance, a fertility evaluation is generally recommended after:
12 months of trying when the partner providing eggs is younger than 35, without known fertility concerns.
6 months of trying when that partner is 35 or older.
Earlier evaluation when they are over 40, or when a known condition may affect fertility. [12]
You also don't need to wait for these milestones if there are reasons to investigate sooner.
Examples include consistently irregular or absent periods, unusually short or long cycles, persistent bleeding between periods, severe menstrual pain, known or suspected endometriosis, previous pelvic infections, recurrent pregnancy loss, or known sperm-related concerns.
The updated ASRM guideline specifically identifies cycles consistently shorter than 25 days or longer than 35 days among the patterns that may warrant targeted evaluation. [12]
Seeking information early does not necessarily mean you need fertility treatment.
Sometimes the most helpful next step is simply understanding whether ovulation is occurring, addressing a specific health concern, or reviewing your reproductive history.
10. Give yourself permission to approach this one month at a time
Trying to conceive can change the way you experience your menstrual cycle.
A period might suddenly feel disappointing. A late period may bring excitement and uncertainty. Symptoms you've never paid much attention to might become the focus of your day.
For some people, these early months feel hopeful and exciting. For others, they bring unexpected anxiety. Both experiences are understandable. You don't have to interpret every symptom, follow every fertility trend, or turn each cycle into a test of whether you're doing enough.
Instead, focus on what you can reasonably understand and support: your cycle, your general health, and your options for getting answers when you need them. And if the experience is taking a toll on your emotional wellbeing, support from a trusted person, counsellor, or healthcare professional can be valuable.
You don't need all the answers to take the next step
The first few months of trying to conceive are often a period of learning. You may discover more about your menstrual cycle, find a tracking approach that works for you, or simply learn that conception can take longer than expected.
It's important to remember that not becoming pregnant immediately doesn't automatically mean there's a problem. At the same time, you don't have to dismiss your symptoms or wait until you're overwhelmed to ask questions.
At My Fertility Labs, we believe that feeling informed and supported matters at every stage of your fertility journey. Our Alberta-based team offers fertility education, individualized assessments, cycle-timed hormone testing, and reproductive health support when appropriate. We work with you to better understand your reproductive health, interpret relevant findings, and explore meaningful next steps.
Whether you're just beginning to try or have questions after a few months, we're here to help you move forward with clarity.
Because trying to conceive shouldn't mean navigating every question on your own.
References
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2022). Optimizing natural fertility: A committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 117(1), 53–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.10.007
Wilcox, A. J., Weinberg, C. R., & Baird, D. D. (1995). Timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation: Effects on the probability of conception, survival of the pregnancy, and sex of the baby. New England Journal of Medicine, 333(23), 1517–1521. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199512073332301
Gibbons, T., Reavey, J., Georgiou, E. X., & Becker, C. M. (2023). Timed intercourse for couples trying to conceive. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(9), CD011345. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011345.pub3
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Pregnancy: Home-use tests. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/home-use-tests/pregnancy
National Health Service. (n.d.). Doing a pregnancy test. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/doing-a-pregnancy-test/
Harville, E. W., Wilcox, A. J., Baird, D. D., & Weinberg, C. R. (2003). Vaginal bleeding in very early pregnancy. Human Reproduction, 18(9), 1944–1947. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deg379
National Health Service. (n.d.). Ectopic pregnancy: Symptoms. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms/
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2025). Folic acid, healthy pregnancy and neural tube defect prevention. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/pregnancy/folic-acid.html
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2019). Family-centred maternity and newborn care: National guidelines—Chapter 2: Preconception care. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/maternity-newborn-care-guidelines-chapter-2.html
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2023). Stress and infertility. ReproductiveFacts.org. https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/fact-sheets-and-infographics/stress-and-infertility/
Girum, T., & Wasie, A. (2018). Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 3, Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-018-0064-y
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2026). Fertility evaluation of infertile women: A committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility (advance online publication). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2026.08.686
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general educational purposes only and does not replace personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.
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