This is day 11 of your menstrual cycle

If this isn't your first month of trying, don't be too disappointed. It's normal for conception to take a while.

269 days until your due date

It can be hard to accept that you don't always conceive when you want to, especially if you're used to succeeding in other areas of life.

Chance plays a big part. Even young women at peak fertility have only a 50–50 chance of conceiving in any one cycle. Trying for 6 or even 12 months without success isn't unusual, and around 16 percent of couples take more than a year. So unless you have a specific reason to worry about your fertility or health, plan on about 12 months.

The main exception is if you're over 30, in which case see your doctor after about six months of trying. The first step is usually a blood test for you and a semen analysis for your partner. Many women over 30 still conceive naturally (the average for a 39-year-old is 15 months), but if you do need assisted fertility treatment, it all takes time.

Ask a Nutritionist

Will green tea help me conceive?

Studies so far are inconclusive either way. Green tea is likely to benefit your health without affecting your fertility, but it contains small amounts of caffeine and tannic acid, which in large quantities have been linked to fertility problems and a higher risk of miscarriage.

Good to know

Stopping contraception

You can get pregnant as soon as you stop some types of contraception:

IUD (coil): you could get pregnant from sex in the week before it's removed, because sperm can live 3–5 days.
Pill: assume you're fertile straight away. Some women seem extra fertile after stopping.
Implants: fertility can return immediately after removal, but for some women periods take 3–9 months to become regular. You may still conceive during this time.
Injections: irregular bleeding and reduced fertility can last several months, but you can still get pregnant before your periods settle.
IUS: you could get pregnant from sex in the week before removal, but because it contains progesterone, this is less likely than with a regular coil.

Explainer

Coming off the Pill

You could get pregnant in the first month after stopping the Pill. If you're not ready yet, use condoms for a month or two.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.