The chances of conceiving in any one menstrual cycle are only
thought to be about 30%, even for the most fertile of couples.
About a quarter of women under 25, with no reproductive problem,
take more than 12 months to conceive. This rises to around
half of those over 35.
If you're under 30 and you're making love two or three times
a week allow a year to conceive. If you're between 30 and
35 try for 9 months and if you're over 35 give it six months
before you seek help.
Women whose body mass index (BMI) is under 17 or over 30 take
longer to conceive, on average, Smokers are over three times
more likely than non-smokers to take a year or more to conceive.
The effect increases the more you smoke.
Research suggests that drinking more than three cups of regular
strength coffee per day (2 cans of cola equal a cup of coffee)
more than doubles your chance of taking over a year to conceive.
Breastfeeding can delay ovulation and affect your hormone
balance so that if you do conceive the pregnancy isn't sustained.
Men who are sub-fertile have a one in two chance of increasing
their sperm count if they stop drinking or smoking for three
months Deficiencies of zinc or vitamin E in either partner
may delay conception.
