There's no single normal timeline. NHS guidance says most people aged 39 or under who have sex every 2–3 days will conceive within a year, and ACOG notes more than half of healthy couples succeed within 6 months. Here's what actually affects the timeline, and when it's worth talking to a doctor.
According to NHS guidance, 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. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) puts it similarly: more than half of healthy couples conceive within the first 6 months of trying.
That leaves a meaningful share of couples for whom it takes longer than 6 months, or the better part of a year — and that's still within the range doctors consider normal before recommending an assessment. "Taking a while" is not the same as "something is wrong."
Already pregnant and want to work out roughly when conception happened?
Open the Conception Calculator →Pregnancy is only possible during a roughly 6-day window each cycle — the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself — because sperm can survive up to about 5 days in the body, while the egg survives only about 12 to 24 hours after release. ACOG's practical advice is to have sex every day or every other day during this window, rather than trying to pinpoint one single "perfect" day.
Ovulation typically happens about 14 days before your next period starts, fairly consistently regardless of how long your overall cycle is. You can estimate your own likely window with our Ovulation Calculator, or read our guide to ovulation symptoms for the physical signs that can help confirm timing.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Age | Fertility gradually declines with age for both partners, which is why medical guidance shortens the "normal wait before seeking help" as age increases |
| Timing of sex | Conception can only happen in the ~6-day fertile window each cycle — timing matters more than total frequency |
| Cycle regularity | Irregular cycles make it harder to predict ovulation, which can extend the time it takes without necessarily reflecting a fertility problem |
| General health | Body weight, smoking, and certain health conditions can all affect fertility for either partner |
| Known fertility conditions | Endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count and similar conditions can extend the timeline and usually warrant earlier medical review |
Medical guidance from both ACOG and NHS points to broadly the same thresholds:
See a doctor earlier than these timeframes, regardless of age, if you or your partner have a known condition that can affect fertility — such as endometriosis, PCOS, very irregular or absent periods, a history of pelvic surgery, or a low sperm count — or if you find it difficult to have sex due to a health condition or disability.
How long does it usually take to get pregnant?
It varies a lot between couples, but NHS guidance is that if you're 39 or under and have sex without contraception every 2 to 3 days, it's likely you'll conceive within a year. ACOG notes more than half of healthy couples conceive within the first 6 months of trying. There's no single "normal" timeline — it depends on age, health, and how consistently you're timing sex around ovulation.
How often should you have sex to get pregnant?
NHS guidance suggests sex every 2 to 3 days throughout the cycle if you're 39 or under. ACOG's more targeted advice is sex every day or every other day during the roughly 6-day fertile window (the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself), since that's when pregnancy is actually possible. You don't need to have sex daily all month — timing it around the fertile window matters more than frequency alone.
When should I see a doctor about not getting pregnant?
ACOG and NHS guidance both suggest: if you're under 35, talk to your doctor after trying for 1 year without success. If you're 35 to 39, after 6 months. If you're 40 or older, consider seeing a doctor sooner. You should also see a doctor earlier regardless of age if you have a known condition affecting fertility, such as endometriosis, PCOS, very irregular periods, or a history of pelvic surgery.
Does age affect how long it takes to get pregnant?
Yes. Fertility gradually declines with age, which is reflected in medical guidance itself — the recommended time to wait before seeking help drops from 1 year (under 35) to 6 months (35-39) to potentially less (40 and older), because age-related fertility decline makes early assessment more useful at older ages.