Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTime When TryingTime When Not TryingThe Effect of AgeOther Factors to Consider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Time When Trying
Time When Not Trying
The Effect of Age
Other Factors to Consider
On average,getting pregnanthappens within the first three months of having unprotected sex (without a condom or birth control).However, for some, it can take much longer. Chances of becoming pregnant depend on age, overall health, menstrual cycle tracking, ovulation calculation, and timing of intercourse.
This article reviews your chances of pregnancy while trying and not trying and factors that affect how long it could take to get pregnant.
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A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges that sex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Chance of Pregnancy While Trying: How Long?
For healthy people in their 20s and early 30s, the chance of getting pregnant within any given menstrual cycle (month) is 25%.About 80% of people will get pregnant within the first six months of trying, and around 85% to 90% will get pregnant within one year.
Having unprotected sex every one to two days during your fertile window (five days before and the day ofovulation) increases the odds of becoming pregnant. Newer studies note that having sex one to two days before ovulation increases the chances of conception even more than having sex on the day of ovulation.
Conception—when a sperm and egg combine—can occur within 15 minutes of having unprotected sex. But, it takes the embryo (fertilized egg) five to six days to implant in the uterus, officially resulting in pregnancy.
How to Track Ovulation
Many pregnancy symptoms don’t appear until after you miss a period, but the following might show up earlier:
Chance of Pregnancy Without Trying: How Long?
Age and Ease of Getting Pregnant
Fertility peaks in your late teens and early 20s, when you have the most plentiful and healthy eggs. Fertility declines slightly in your early 30s but is most noticeable around age 35.By age 40, pregnancy odds decrease from 25% to 10% in any given cycle, with the average last pregnancy occurring at about age 41.
When It Takes Longer Than You Expect to Get PregnantInfertility affects 10% to 15% of couples, with causes divided equally among female fertility concerns, male fertility problems, and unexplained factors.Consult a healthcare provider if any of the following apply to you:You are under 35 and haven’t conceived after a year of trying.You are over 35 and haven’t conceived after six months of trying.You are over 40 when first trying to conceive.Either partner has a known medical condition that could affect fertility, including low libido (sex drive).Your average menstrual cycle length is less than 21 days or greater than 35 days.Your provider may suggest a consultation with a fertility specialist to help you understand your fertility status and give you guidance on the next steps, which may include further testing, ovulation tracking, or fertility treatments.
When It Takes Longer Than You Expect to Get Pregnant
Infertility affects 10% to 15% of couples, with causes divided equally among female fertility concerns, male fertility problems, and unexplained factors.Consult a healthcare provider if any of the following apply to you:You are under 35 and haven’t conceived after a year of trying.You are over 35 and haven’t conceived after six months of trying.You are over 40 when first trying to conceive.Either partner has a known medical condition that could affect fertility, including low libido (sex drive).Your average menstrual cycle length is less than 21 days or greater than 35 days.Your provider may suggest a consultation with a fertility specialist to help you understand your fertility status and give you guidance on the next steps, which may include further testing, ovulation tracking, or fertility treatments.
Infertility affects 10% to 15% of couples, with causes divided equally among female fertility concerns, male fertility problems, and unexplained factors.Consult a healthcare provider if any of the following apply to you:
Your provider may suggest a consultation with a fertility specialist to help you understand your fertility status and give you guidance on the next steps, which may include further testing, ovulation tracking, or fertility treatments.
Other Factors That Affect How Long Pregnancy Could Take
The following factors can affect your odds of becoming pregnant:
Medical Conditions
The following are examples of medical conditions that affect female fertility:
Lifestyle and Other Factors
The following lifestyle factors can negatively affect both male and female fertility.
Other factors that can affect female partners include:
Factors Affecting Males
As males age, at around 50, sperm quality decreases, making it harder to conceive.However, the following factors can cause unhealthy male reproductive organs or problems with sperm amounts, shape, and movement, which can impact fertility at any age.
Summary
On average, people having regular, unprotected sex conceive within a year. But, irregular cycles, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors such as weight management, smoking, excessive alcohol, and stress can impact fertility.
Experts recommend that people less than 35 consult a healthcare provider if they don’t get pregnant within one year of trying. For those over 35 or with known medical issues, the recommendation is to consult a fertility specialist after six months of trying.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion (2022).
Favaro C, Pearson JT, Rowland SP, et al.Time to pregnancy for women using a fertility awareness-based mobile application to plan a pregnancy.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021;30(11):1538-1545. doi:10.1089/jwh.2021.0026
US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Trying to conceive.
US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Knowing if you are pregnant.
Lutterodt MC, Kähler P, Kragstrup J, Nicolaisdottir DR, Siersma V, Ertmann R K.Examining to what extent pregnancy-related physical symptoms worry women in the first trimester of pregnancy: A cross-sectional study in general practice.BJGP Open. 2019;3(4). doi:10.3399/bjgpopen19X101674
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.How common is infertility?
Ahn SH, Lee I, Cho S, et al.Predictive factors of conception and the cumulative pregnancy rate in subfertile couples undergoing timed intercourse with ultrasound.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:650883. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.650883
American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Optimizing natural fertility: A committee opinion (2022).
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