How long it takes to get pregnant is somewhat dependant on the age of the woman when she begins to try to conceive. Female bodies are made to reproduce the most during a specific time period in their lives. The most efficient childbearing ages are between ages twenty-five and thirty-five. At this time in a woman’s reproductive years, it is the easiest for her to get pregnant. However, even during this ideal time frame, most women do not immediately get pregnant once they begin trying. Most doctors suggest that up to a year or a year and a half long waits to get pregnant are normal.
Pregnancy involves the lining up of many factors, and that doesn’t always happen overnight. Many fertility doctors won’t even consult with younger patients unless they have tried to become pregnant for at least that period of time. They realize that, chances are, these women have absolutely nothing wrong with their fertility and will conceive shortly, as soon as they happen to have intercourse on a day when they are ovulating. Most women (actually, ninety percent!) will conceive within eighteen months of stopping birth control and having intercourse at various times throughout the month.
Before and after the ten years from age twenty-five to age thirty-five, it becomes harder to get pregnant, and therefore, it is typically a longer wait until pregnancy. No matter how long it takes to get pregnant, some women will worry. Women under the age of twenty-five have slightly lower rates of fertility, but chances of pregnancy fall even more drastically for women over the age of thirty-five.
The majority of women over the age of thirty-five will still be able to get pregnant within eighteen months, but a higher rate cannot. If you are concerned with how long it is taking you to get pregnant, and you have been trying for over a year, it may be time to see your doctor to rule out other easily treatable health problems that could be affecting your fertility.
