When couples decide that it is time for them to try for a baby, they need to consider all the possible ways of enabling a successful conception. Firstly, couples should have an honest discussion about the lifestyle changes trying for a baby might involve. It is important to be emotionally and psychologically prepared for what could feel like a long wait.

Not everyone realises that the average couple with no medical problems has only a 15 to 20 per cent chance of conceiving per menstrual cycle, a statistic that is not designed to dishearten you, but to realistically prepare you for the time that conception might take.

Before you begin trying to conceive, give your diet and lifestyle a thorough health check. Women should not be on a low calorie diet, as this decreases the levels of reproductive hormones, reducing the chance of ovulation. Both men and women should quit smoking and limit drinking to six units per week, since both of these habits reduce fertility. Cut out caffeine, since research shows that just one cup a day can halve your chance of conception. Also, some painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibruprofen, can interfere with conception if taken around the time of ovulation, since they suppress the critical hormones.

Once you have banished the bad stuff from your diet, add some health goodies. Buy organic food where possible, since pesticides can affect fertility. Also, women who are looking to get pregnant should take folic acid, which is critical for preventing birth defects, by aiding the development of the baby's spine and brain. Men should take selenium, which maximises sperm formation and testosterone production. Both men and women should take zinc and vitamin C, to help with sperm formation and ovulation respectively.