How to Get Pregnant Faster: 9 Evidence-Based Tips
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1. Have sex every two to three days
You do not need to wait for a positive ovulation test before having sex.
Current NICE guidance recommends having sex every two to three days throughout the cycle to optimise the chance of pregnancy. This means sperm are more likely to already be present when ovulation occurs—even if you ovulate earlier or later than expected.
If you prefer to focus on your fertile window, aim to have sex every one to two days during the five days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation.
2. Learn when you are likely to ovulate
Ovulation usually happens around 12 to 16 days before your next period—not necessarily on cycle day 14.
For example:
- With a 28-day cycle, ovulation may occur around day 14.
- With a 32-day cycle, it may happen closer to day 18.
- With irregular cycles, the timing can vary considerably.
The fertile window includes the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation. This is because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for several days, while the egg is usually available for fertilisation for only around 12 to 24 hours.
3. Look for signs of your fertile window
You can estimate ovulation using:
- Ovulation predictor kits, which detect an increase in luteinising hormone
- Clear, slippery or “egg-white” cervical mucus
- Cycle-tracking apps
- Basal body temperature tracking
- Changes in your cervix or libido
Ovulation tests can be helpful, but they are not perfect. Some people with PCOS experience persistently raised or repeated LH surges, which can make the results harder to interpret.
Basal body temperature rises after ovulation, so it is more useful for confirming that ovulation has happened than predicting it in real time.
If tracking is becoming stressful, having sex every two to three days is a simpler and equally sensible approach.
4. Start preparing before the positive pregnancy test
The earliest stages of development begin before many people know they are pregnant. Preconception care should therefore start while you are trying—not after your first positive test.
UK guidance recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before conception and until 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate that must be converted by the body into its biologically active form, methylfolate (5-MTHF), before it can be used. CORE3 contains 1,000mcg of methylfolate, which is already active and does not require conversion by the MTHFR enzyme. If you have been prescribed 5mg folic acid, continue taking it unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Vitamin D is also recommended when trying to conceive and during pregnancy, particularly because deficiency is common in the UK. While the NHS recommends a standard daily dose of 400IU, fertility and pregnancy studies have investigated higher doses, including 4,000IU daily. CORE3 provides this higher studied dose—10 times the standard recommendation—in one capsule. As 4,000IU is the recommended daily upper limit for adults, CORE3 should not be combined with other vitamin D supplements unless advised by a healthcare professional.
5. Choose a fertility supplement you can take consistently
The best fertility supplement is not simply the one with the longest ingredient list. It is one you understand and can take consistently.
Taking multiple separate capsules every day can quickly become tiring. That is why we created CORE3: a doctor-formulated, one-a-day fertility supplement combining three carefully selected nutrients in a single capsule:
- 450mg CoQ10
- 1,000mcg methylfolate
- 4,000IU vegan vitamin D3
CORE3 was designed for women who want the clinically studied doses without an overwhelming daily supplement stack. It is UK manufactured, halal, vegan and contains lichen-derived vitamin D3 with no gelatine.
[Shop CORE3 fertility support]
6. Support both egg and sperm health
Conception involves two people, so preconception preparation should not focus on the woman alone.
Smoking can negatively affect female fertility and sperm quality. Heavy alcohol consumption may also reduce fertility, while being significantly underweight or overweight can affect ovulation and pregnancy health.
Helpful steps for both partners include:
- Stopping smoking
- Avoiding recreational drugs
- Eating a varied, balanced diet
- Exercising regularly without excessive training
- Working towards a healthy, sustainable weight
- Reviewing regular medication with a doctor
- Limiting excessive alcohol consumption
If you are planning a pregnancy, the safest approach for the woman is not to drink alcohol.
7. Do not rely on fertility “hacks”
There is no particular sexual position proven to increase the chance of pregnancy, and lying with your legs in the air afterwards is not necessary.
Likewise, implantation teas, fertility sweets and social-media “hacks” cannot overcome blocked fallopian tubes, absent ovulation, significantly impaired sperm or age-related changes in egg quality.
Focus first on the factors that can genuinely influence your chances: regular sex, ovulation, preconception health, appropriate supplementation and seeking medical advice when needed.
8. Check whether your lubricant is sperm-friendly
Some standard lubricants can affect sperm movement in laboratory testing. If you need to use lubricant while trying to conceive, choose one specifically labelled as fertility-friendly or sperm-friendly.
This does not increase fertility by itself, but it can help you avoid using a product that may interfere with sperm movement.
9. Know when to ask for help
Speak to your GP if you have been trying to conceive for 12 months without becoming pregnant.
You may need advice sooner if:
- You are aged 36 or over
- Your periods are very irregular or absent
- You have known or suspected PCOS or endometriosis
- You have experienced recurrent pregnancy loss
- You have had an ectopic pregnancy or pelvic infection
- Either partner has a known fertility condition
- There are concerns about erections, ejaculation or sperm health
- You take medication or have a condition that may affect pregnancy
Fertility investigations should usually involve both partners rather than focusing only on the woman.
How long does it normally take to get pregnant?
Even when everything is timed correctly, pregnancy does not happen every cycle.
For people aged 39 or under having regular sex without contraception every two to three days, the majority will become pregnant within one year. Taking several months to conceive does not automatically mean that something is wrong.
You can optimise your opportunity each month, but you cannot control every stage between ovulation, fertilisation, embryo development and implantation.
The bottom line
If you want to improve your chances of getting pregnant faster:
- Have sex every two to three days.
- Learn roughly when you ovulate.
- Start preconception nutrients before pregnancy.
- Support the health of both partners.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol.
- Seek medical advice at the appropriate time.
And if pill burden is making it difficult to stay consistent, CORE3 delivers 450mg CoQ10, 1,000mcg methylfolate and 4,000IU vitamin D3 in just one daily capsule.
One capsule. Three carefully selected nutrients. No overwhelming supplement stack.