Not Conceiving After 12 Months? What You Should Know (And Do) Next

By Verity Paz, Fertility Coach, Reflexologist & Clinical Hypnotherapist

Trying for a baby can be one of the most emotional journeys a couple will ever take. After 15 years working in fertility, I’ve supported hundreds of couples across the UK. Lately, I’ve seen more people coming to me sooner, after 12 months or less, and not getting the help they need from their GP due to NHS funding issues. Sadly there are also many that don’t come to see me until after years of heartache because they aren’t aware of their options and other ways they can improve their fertility. Many have said they wished they had known about fertility coaching sooner so I’m doing my best to spread the word and help as many couples as possible earlier in the journey.

If you’ve been trying for a year, you’re not alone or out of options and there’s no need to wait. There’s plenty that your GP can do, as well as you.

What tests should your GP be offering you?

Day 1–3 of your cycle (first day = first day of bright red bleeding):

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)– Measures your brain’s signal to your ovaries.
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone)– Peaks before ovulation.
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)– Checks thyroid function.
• Oestrogen, Testosterone & Prolactin– Essential hormonal markers.

Day 21 (or 7 days post-ovulation):

• Progesterone– Confirms ovulation and indicates if levels can support pregnancy. You want it over 20 for optimal results.

Sperm Analysis (For Men):

• Measures count, motility (movement), morphology (shape), and pH. A high pH may indicate infection.

You can ask your GP for these specific tests and make sure they do them on the correct days. Many aren’t and this invalidates the results. Fertility is complex and we can’t expect our GPs to know everything so do your research and advocate for yourself. The NHS offer some online support and information as well which you can read here.

What can you do next?

Here’s how to empower your own fertility health right now:

Clean Up Your lifestyle
Try to get plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and high-quality proteins.

Avoid as much as possible ultra-processed foods (keep things fresh and organic), artificial ingredients, alcohol, smoking and vaping and keep caffeine to 1 or 2 cups daily.

Don’t organise sex
If you try to organise sex by testing your ovulation and booking it in it can become a stressful chore. Try to keep it up every 2 – 3 days throughout your cycle. Even when you’re not ovulating, oxytocin boosts uterine health, and regular ejaculation improves sperm quality and testosterone.

Need Help Now?
I offer one-on-one fertility coaching – even if you’ve only been trying for a few months. If you suspect something’s wrong, don’t wait. Let’s investigate together and find the answers you deserve. I aim to ensure my coaching sessions are affordable, and sometimes one is all you need. The NHS route can only do so much for you and there are always many avenues that are missed that could make all the difference for you.

Book a session with me

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