How to get pregnant?

Dr Sarah Johnson

Reviewed by Dr Sarah Johnson on May 15, 2017
Written by Julie Macken.

You can only get pregnant if you have unprotected sex during the few days each cycle leading up to and including the day of ovulation so, if you are trying for a baby, a good understanding of your menstrual cycle can help. We hope you’ll find the following information useful in your journey to pregnancy.

Did you know?

  • One in two couples could be trying to conceive at the wrong time1.
  • There are only a few days each month when you can get pregnant – the day of ovulation and the days leading up to ovulation
  • However, these days vary from woman to woman and cycle to cycle, even in regular cycles.
  • Accurately predicting ovulation will help you maximise your chances of getting pregnant naturally.
  • Clearblue Ovulation Tests are at least 99% accurate at detecting the LH surge which triggers ovulation, so they accurately predict ovulation

Top 10 things you need to know when trying to get pregnant.

Deciding it’s time to start a family or get pregnant again? Get expert advice to help you conceive and begin a healthy pregnancy.


Menstrual cycles and ovulation

You probably already know quite a lot about your menstrual cycle – like how often you get your periods and how heavy they are, but this article takes a more in-depth look at the female menstrual cycle, ovulation and periods and explains the various hormones that control all of these events.


What is ovulation?

Ovulation is the name of the process that happens usually once in every menstrual cycle when hormone changes trigger an ovary to release an egg. In this article, we look more closely at this process and explain how you can use this knowledge to help you to become pregnant.


How long does it take to get pregnant?

Many couples assume they’ll get pregnant quickly. However, it’s quite normal for it to take up to a year for a couple under 35 and in good health to conceive. Here, we look at why pregnancy can take longer to happen than you perhaps imagined.


How to get pregnant faster?

There are only a few days during each monthly cycle when you can become pregnant – the day of ovulation and the days leading up to it. As many as one in two couples may be trying to conceive at the wrong time1, because they don’t know when these most fertile days are. Find out more about how you can help your chances of becoming pregnant.


Different ways to identify your most fertile days

Knowing when your most fertile days are during each cycle is key if you are trying for a baby. There are various signs and symptoms of ovulation and most methods rely on these to help you identify your fertile days. In this article, we look at these signs and symptoms and show how they can be used to help you.

Ovulation tests

Clearblue offers a range of products to help you better understand your body's ovulation cycle and accurately identify your fertile days. These products are easy to use at home and can help you maximise your chances of getting pregnant naturally.

Ovulation calculator

To help you understand how ovulation works and begin to get to know your body, Clearblue gives you access to a calculator designed to display both the days that you will likely ovulate and the probability that you will ovulate on each. This calculator was developed with over 700 women and their cycle lengths and ovulation patterns.


How many eggs do I have?

You've probably heard the term: 'A Woman's Biological Clock', but what does it actually mean and at what age does it start to matter? A man will make sperm at virtually the same rate throughout his life. However, the story is different for women.


Fertility problems

Infertility affects a sizable proportion of the population - around 16% of couples are unable to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse2.In this article we look at a number of issues which can cause fertility problems in both men and women. .

What is anovulation?

Ovulation is controlled by fertility hormones. If for any reason your hormone levels are disturbed, your ovulation can be affected. Anovulation is when a woman’s ovary fails to produce, mature or release an egg. Most women will experience anovulatory menstrual cycles at some point during their reproductive lives. Here, we look in more depth at some of the causes of anovulation and what to look out for.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a leading cause of female infertility; in fact, PCOS is the most common cause of anovulation (when a woman’s ovary does not release an egg). It is estimated that about one in five women in the UK have polycystic ovaries3. In this article, we look at this condition and how it can affect a woman’s fertility.



dot-pinpoints

Digital Ovulation Test: pinpoints your 2 most fertile days

In every cycle there are only a few days when a woman can conceive, so having sex on these days is very important if you are trying to get pregnant.