To improve your chance of success when trying to conceive you should consider:

• Both partners stopping smoking.
• Ensuring you are eating a healthy diet and consider taking an antenatal supplement which contains folic acid and vitamin D.
• If you are under 35 years old and having regular periods we advise you to continue trying and make the recommended health adjustments as most couples fall pregnant within two years.
• If you have been trying to conceive for over two years and are under 35 years please make an appointment for the GP to arrange some tests for yourself (blood test) and your partner will need to see his usual GP for semen analysis.
• If you are aged over 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for 12 months please see a GP.
• If you are trying to conceive and not fallen pregnant after 12 months and have irregular or absent periods please see a GP to discuss your issues.
• Depending on your blood and semen tests results you will be referred onto a specialist in fertility who will discuss your options.

Please be aware that in Gloucestershire there are restrictions on who is eligible for funding towards fertility treatment:

• Neither partner can have any living children from the current or previous relationship.
• Neither partner can be a smoker or have issues around dependence with substance or alcohol misuse.
• The female partner must be under age 40 and have a BMI between 19-30.
• Neither partner can have previously been sterilised.