How Can I Get Pregnant Again? | Steps That Raise Your Odds

If you’ve been here before, you already know the mix of hope and pressure that can show up when you’re trying again. This page is built to lower the guesswork. You’ll get a clear plan for timing, cycle tracking that doesn’t take over your life, and the health steps that tend to matter most.

One note up front: fertility is shared. Even when the question is about your body, a partner’s sperm health can change the timeline. If you’re trying with a partner, think “team effort” from day one.

Start here: The plan that fits most people

If your cycles are fairly regular, you can run a simple loop each month:

• Track cycle day 1 (first day of real flow).
• Have sex every 2–3 days from about day 8 until a day or two after you think you ovulated.
• Add folic acid daily and keep it steady.
• Run one pregnancy test after a missed period (or about 14 days after ovulation if you track it).
• Adjust only one thing per month so you can tell what’s working.

If your cycles are irregular, you can still time sex well, but you’ll lean more on ovulation signs and test strips. You’ll get a step-by-step method below.

How Can I Get Pregnant Again? A practical reset if it’s been hard

Sometimes the hardest part is that you did it once, so you expect the same script again. Bodies don’t always repeat themselves. Age changes egg supply and egg quality. Sleep debt piles up. Stress hits libido. Postpartum hormones can shift cycles for a while. Past infections or surgeries can affect tubes or the uterus. None of that means you’re stuck. It just means you may need a cleaner process this time.

Think of your reset in three layers:

1. Timing (catching the fertile window)
2. Body readiness (nutrients, meds, cycle regularity)
3. Medical checks (only when time or symptoms point that way)

When “trying again” follows birth, miscarriage, or a long break

If you’re postpartum, cycle return can be unpredictable, especially with breastfeeding. That can blur ovulation timing. If you recently had a miscarriage, some people ovulate again quickly, while others need a few cycles to feel steady. Your clinician can guide timing based on your history, bleeding pattern, and any complications.

If you’re coming off hormonal birth control, many people see ovulation within weeks, while others take a few months to settle into their personal rhythm. Track what your body does rather than what a calendar says it “should” do.

When age changes the calendar

Fertility can still be strong in your 30s and beyond, but the window for “wait and see” tends to shrink with age. If you’re 36 or older and trying to conceive, the NHS advises seeing a GP for advice rather than waiting a full year of trying without pregnancy. NHS guidance on trying to get pregnant spells out when to seek help.

ACOG also lays out a time-based trigger for evaluation when pregnancy isn’t happening with regular unprotected sex. ACOG’s prepregnancy counseling guidance includes that timeline and what a preconception visit often covers.

Timing sex without turning your life into a spreadsheet

You don’t need perfect timing. You need enough well-timed chances. The egg lives for a short window after ovulation, while sperm can survive several days in fertile cervical mucus. That’s why the days leading up to ovulation matter so much.

Method A: Regular cycles (the “steady rhythm” approach)

If your cycle length is usually consistent, start with this:

• Count day 1 as the first day of bleeding that needs a pad or tampon.
• If you tend to ovulate mid-cycle, start sex every 2–3 days around day 8–10.
• Keep that spacing until a day or two after you think you ovulated.

This rhythm covers the fertile window even if ovulation shifts a bit month to month. It also keeps things from getting too performance-heavy.

Method B: Irregular cycles (use body signs + ovulation strips)

If you can’t predict ovulation well from past cycles, stack two signals:

1. Cervical mucus: Many people notice wetter, stretchy, egg-white–like mucus in the days before ovulation.
2. LH test strips: A positive surge often means ovulation is near.

How to use that stack:

• Have sex every 2–3 days as your baseline.
• When mucus gets wetter or you get a rising LH line, have sex that day and the next day if you can.
• Keep going until one day after the peak/positive.

LH tests can be tricky with some conditions (like PCOS) since LH can run high. If your strips look positive for many days, lean more on mucus changes and a steady every-2–3-day rhythm.

Method C: Confirming ovulation (when you want more certainty)

If you like clear feedback, add one of these:

• Basal body temperature (BBT): Your temperature often rises after ovulation. It confirms ovulation after the fact.
• Mid-luteal progesterone bloodwork: A clinician can order this at the right time to confirm ovulation.

BBT is best used to learn your pattern, not to time sex on the day. The rise comes after ovulation, so it’s a “yes, it happened” tool.

Preconception steps that actually move the needle

A lot of preconception advice online is noisy. Here are the parts that keep showing up in clinical guidance and public health recommendations.

Take folic acid daily (start now, not after a positive test)

CDC recommends that women who can become pregnant get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day to help prevent neural tube defects. CDC’s folic acid intake and sources page explains the dose and where it comes from (supplements and fortified foods).

WHO also recommends 400 μg folic acid daily from when you begin trying to conceive through early pregnancy. WHO guidance on periconceptional folic acid summarizes the evidence and timing.

Check your meds and supplements for pregnancy safety

Some prescriptions, acne treatments, seizure meds, and herbal products can be risky in early pregnancy. Don’t stop a needed medicine on your own. Book a medication review with your clinician so you can swap or adjust safely before you conceive.

Get your cycle basics in place

If your cycles are often longer than 35 days, shorter than 21 days, or missing for months, ovulation may be irregular. That’s a useful signal to bring to a visit. Bring a simple log: cycle start dates, bleeding length, and any ovulation test results.

Keep alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs out of the trying window

Preconception visits routinely screen for alcohol, nicotine, and drug use because they can affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes, and because early pregnancy can happen before you notice it. ACOG lists this as part of prepregnancy counseling. ACOG’s prepregnancy counseling guidance covers that screening and other prep steps.

Food basics: steady meals, enough protein, and iron awareness

You don’t need a fancy eating plan. You want steady energy and nutrients that match your needs. If you’ve had heavy periods, low iron can be part of fatigue and cycle issues. If you suspect low iron, ask for a ferritin check.

If you’re underweight or you’ve been losing weight fast, ovulation can stall. If you’re at a higher body weight, ovulation can also become irregular for some people. Your clinician can help you pick a realistic target that fits your body and history.

What can slow conception	Clues you might notice	What to do next
Sex missing the fertile window	Intercourse happens mostly after ovulation	Use every-2–3-day timing, add LH strips for one month
Irregular ovulation	Cycles vary a lot, missed periods	Track cycles and ovulation tests, book a visit for ovulation workup
Thyroid imbalance	Fatigue, weight shifts, cycle changes	Ask for thyroid labs during a preconception check
High prolactin	Milk leakage when not breastfeeding, irregular cycles	Ask for prolactin testing if symptoms fit
Tubal factor (scar tissue, past infection)	History of pelvic infection or ectopic pregnancy	Ask about tubal testing if pregnancy hasn’t happened after months of trying
Endometriosis	Deep period pain, pain with sex	Bring symptom details to a visit; ask about fertility-focused options
Uterine issues (fibroids, polyps)	Heavy bleeding, spotting between periods	Ask about ultrasound if bleeding patterns changed
Male factor (sperm count, motility)	No clear clues, or history of testicular injury/varicocele	Request a semen analysis early if trying drags on
Age-related egg changes	Age 36+, or early menopause in family	Shorten the wait before evaluation based on age guidance

When to book a fertility check instead of “trying one more month”

Trying longer can make sense when timing is the only missing piece. If you’re already timing well, waiting can just add frustration.

Time triggers based on age

ACOG notes that if a person under 35 with regular ovulation and no clear risk factors has not conceived after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, it’s reasonable to start an evaluation. ACOG’s prepregnancy counseling guidance includes that “12 months” threshold.

If you’re 36 or older, don’t sit on it. The NHS advises getting advice if you’re 36+ and trying to get pregnant. NHS guidance on trying to get pregnant states that earlier check-in point.

“Don’t wait” situations

Book a visit sooner if any of these fit:

• No periods for 3 months when not pregnant or breastfeeding
• Cycles that swing widely month to month
• Known endometriosis, past pelvic infection, or past ectopic pregnancy
• Heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, or new severe pelvic pain
• Two or more pregnancy losses
• A partner with a history that could affect sperm (testicular surgery, chemo, major injury)

An evaluation can be straightforward: confirming ovulation, checking tubes and uterus, and doing a semen analysis. Getting those basics done early can save a lot of time.

How to keep trying from taking over your relationship

“Try again” can turn sex into a task fast. A few tactics can keep it human:

• Keep a baseline rhythm (every 2–3 days) so you’re not only having sex on “the day.”
• Pick one tracking tool (LH strips or mucus notes) and use it for one month before adding more.
• Set a monthly cut-off for tracking. After ovulation, stop testing and live your life.
• Share the load. Let your partner track timing for one cycle while you focus on your body signals.

If sex is painful, or if libido is crashing, that’s not a side issue. Pain and low desire can block good timing. Bring it up at a visit and ask for options that fit your life.

Time frame	What to do	What to track
Today	Start folic acid, set a simple cycle log, pick a sex rhythm	Cycle day 1, supplement start date
This week	Review meds with a clinician, cut nicotine and drugs, limit alcohol	Meds list, any side effects
Next cycle days 8–18 (adjust if longer cycles)	Have sex every 2–3 days, add LH strips if cycles are irregular	LH results, mucus changes
After ovulation	Stop ovulation testing, keep normal routines, test after missed period	Any spotting, pregnancy test date
After 3 cycles of solid timing	If no pregnancy, book a preconception or fertility visit	Cycle log summary, questions list
At 6–12 months (age-dependent)	Push for a full evaluation based on age and symptoms	All prior tests and results

What a preconception visit can cover

A good preconception visit is more than “take a prenatal.” It’s a fast scan for issues that can affect fertility or early pregnancy, plus a plan that matches your history.

Topics often included:

• Cycle pattern and ovulation signs
• Medical history like thyroid disease, diabetes, hypertension
• Vaccination status and infection risks
• Meds and supplement review
• Genetic carrier screening if it fits your family history
• Basic lab work based on symptoms and history

If you’re trying after a loss, ask what testing makes sense for your case and what can wait. A tailored plan beats a long menu of tests done “just because.”

Small habits that can help fertility stay on track

You don’t need perfection. You want steadiness.

Sleep and shift work

If you’re sleeping in fragments or working rotating shifts, your cycle may get less predictable. Try to anchor one consistent sleep block most nights. Even a modest improvement can help cycle signals feel clearer.

Movement

Regular movement helps insulin sensitivity and mood, and it can also make cycles more regular for some people. If you’re doing intense training most days and your periods are light or missing, dial back and fuel more.

Caffeine

If you drink a lot of caffeine, tapering to a moderate level can be a reasonable move while trying. Keep it consistent so you don’t get withdrawal headaches that wreck sleep.

If you want one thing to do this month

Pick the timing method you can actually stick with. For many people that’s simply sex every 2–3 days plus folic acid. If you want extra clarity, add LH strips for one month and learn your pattern. If you hit the time triggers for your age, or if symptoms point to an ovulation or pelvic issue, book a visit and bring your log.