When you first start having sex, you may look for ways to avoid pregnancy. But for many people who are ready to have children, getting pregnant is much more difficult than they expected. It seems easy enough – have sex, get pregnant. After all, the teen pregnancy rate is skyrocketing! Unfortunately, that’s not how it works for many couples. Whether it’s a lack of proper timing or ultimately infertility, playing the waiting game can be stressful and frustrating. But it’s common – and even likely – you won’t succeed on the first go-round. Or the second or third. In fact, there’s about a 25 percent chance of success even at your most fertile time of the month. That’s something many people don’t know when they embark on the journey of trying to conceive. You don’t know if it will be easy for you or if you’ll have trouble getting pregnant until you start trying.So if you’re interested in maybe becoming pregnant, it’s a good idea to go ahead and see your doctor for a preconception checkup. He or she likely will run blood work, examine your monthly cycle, and do a pap smear and exam to rule out any abnormalities. If everything checks out normal at the doctor, then your next step might be to read up on ways to maximize your timing and chances of getting pregnant. These methods might include charting your cycle to determine when you ovulate, taking your temperature and using a fertility monitor. When these methods don’t work, unfortunately sex can become a chore. Couples can spice things up by having a romantic dinner on “those nights” or investing in sexy lingerie. It’s important to remember that anxiety and depression have an effect on your ability to conceive. Relax, take it easy and return to the doctor if you don’t get the results you want after six months or so.