Blog
Nov 2, 2026
Trying to get pregnant can be both exciting and frustrating. For many, pregnancy happens quickly, while for others it takes longer than expected. If you have been trying for a while without success, it is natural to wonder what affects fertility and when it is time to seek help.
In this article we look at how long it normally takes to get pregnant, common reasons why pregnancy does not happen and what a fertility assessment involves.
It is common for it to take time: about 80–85 per cent of couples get pregnant within a year. If you have been trying for 12 months without success, or for 6 months if the woman is 35 or older, a fertility assessment of both partners is recommended, and if there are known factors, such as absent periods or endometriosis, you can seek help straight away. The cause lies about as often with the woman as with the man, and sometimes no explanation is found.
If pregnancy does not happen after a year of regular unprotected sex, this is called infertility. It is more common than many people think, and for most couples there are both explanations and treatment.
Even in fertile couples, pregnancy does not happen straight away. The chance of getting pregnant in a single menstrual cycle is highest during the most fertile years and is usually around 20–30 per cent per cycle.
Statistically:
How quickly a pregnancy happens depends on factors such as the woman's age, egg quality, sperm quality, lifestyle and how often you have sex during the fertile window.
The chance of getting pregnant is highest during the fertile window: the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself. Having sex every two to three days throughout the cycle gives good chances without having to hit an exact day. Read more about the menstrual cycle and the fertile days in our article on understanding your fertility.
It is common for it to take a few months to get pregnant, but in some situations it is wise to seek help sooner.
You should contact a fertility clinic if:
The sooner an underlying cause is found, the sooner the right treatment can be planned.
When a couple finds it hard to get pregnant, it is usually due to one or more factors.
The causes are roughly divided as follows:
In about a third of cases the cause lies mainly with the woman.
Common examples are:
In about a third of cases the cause lies mainly with the man.
It can involve:
A man's fertility is checked with a semen analysis and, if needed, a fertility assessment for men with a doctor's appointment.
In many couples, both female and male factors contribute to the fertility problems.
In about 10–30% of cases no clear explanation is found despite a thorough assessment. This is called unexplained infertility.
Treatment for unexplained infertility may be insemination (IUI) combined with ovulation induction, or IVF, depending on age and how long you have been trying.
If you already have a child but do not get pregnant again, the same time limits apply: after 12 months, or after 6 months if you are 35 or older. This is called secondary infertility and is more common than many people think, because age, the fallopian tubes and sperm quality may have changed since the last pregnancy.
Ovulation is an important requirement for pregnancy, but it is far from the only factor.
If you ovulate regularly but still do not get pregnant, the cause may for example be:
If the fallopian tubes are blocked, the sperm and egg cannot meet.
Even if you ovulate, fertilisation can be more difficult if the number, motility or quality of the sperm is reduced.
The embryo needs to be able to implant in the lining of the womb for a pregnancy to start. Polyps, fibroids or other changes can sometimes affect this process.
Endometriosis can affect fertility in several different ways, even in women who ovulate regularly.
A woman's fertility is gradually affected by increasing age, especially after 35, when both the number and the quality of eggs decline.
Age is one of the most important factors for the chance of getting pregnant, so if you are over 35 it is wise not to wait too long before seeking help.
There are several things you can keep an eye on yourself before you seek care.
Think about:
Irregular cycles can be a sign of ovulation disorders.
The following factors can affect fertility:
Read more about how weight, diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol affect your chance of getting pregnant in our article on lifestyle and fertility.
You cannot assess the following yourself:
This requires a medical assessment.
A fertility assessment usually includes both partners, because the cause can lie with one of you or with both.
The doctor goes through:
Blood tests can be used to assess:
Taken if needed:
The ultrasound scan is used to examine:
If needed, whether the fallopian tubes are open can be checked with a dye test (contrast scan) or other tests.
Your partner gives a semen sample, which is analysed for:
When the assessment is complete, the doctor goes through the results and recommends any treatment, for example:
At Ovumia you do not need a referral and there is no waiting list for the assessment. Read more about fertility assessment in Stockholm, what is included and how it differs from a publicly funded assessment through the region.
Not getting pregnant can affect both you and your relationship. It is common to feel worry, grief or stress every month. Talk to each other about how you feel, get help from a counsellor or psychologist if it feels heavy, and remember that many people find it easier once they know what the next step is.
It is normal for it to take time to get pregnant. Most couples get pregnant within a year, but if pregnancy does not happen there can be several different causes. Fertility problems can be due to female factors, male factors, a combination of both or sometimes remain unexplained.
If you have been trying to get pregnant without success, a fertility assessment is often the best way to get answers and find the right way forward. The sooner the cause is found, the sooner an individual treatment plan can be drawn up.
Have you been trying for a long time without success? At Ovumia in Stockholm you can have an assessment without a referral and without a waiting list. Book a first visit or write to us using the contact form.
Here are answers to the most common questions about why pregnancy is taking time and about fertility assessments.
It is more common than many people think. Around 15–20% of all couples do not get pregnant within the first year despite regular unprotected sex.
Yes. Regular periods often mean that you ovulate, but fertility can still be affected by, for example, sperm quality, problems with the fallopian tubes or endometriosis.
A woman's fertility is at its highest in her twenties and early thirties. After that it gradually declines, especially after 35.
Signs of ovulation can include regular periods, a positive ovulation test and changes in cervical mucus. Ovulation is most reliably assessed through a medical assessment.
Yes. Because fertility problems can be due to the woman, the man or both, we recommend that both have an assessment.
In some cases no clear medical explanation is found despite thorough tests. This is called unexplained infertility and is a relatively common diagnosis.
Yes. A fertility assessment does not affect your ability to get pregnant naturally. For some couples, pregnancy happens naturally during or after the assessment.
Even with sex at the right time, the chance per cycle is around 20–30 per cent, so it is normal for it to take a few months. If it takes longer than a year, or six months if you are 35 or older, the cause may be, for example, the fallopian tubes, sperm quality, the lining of the womb or endometriosis.
Infertility means that pregnancy does not happen after a year of regular unprotected sex. It applies both to couples who have never had a child and to couples who already have a child but do not get pregnant again.
Usually there are no clear symptoms. Irregular or absent periods, very painful periods, or previous pelvic infections and operations can point to a cause. Reduced sperm quality rarely causes symptoms, which is why a semen analysis is needed.
Medically reviewed by Lena Ydenius, ESHRE-certified specialist midwife, Ovumia Sweden · Last updated 2026-10-21.
