A: If you were fortunate enough to get pregnant right away with your first child, I'm sure this situation is frustrating and upsetting. Be aware that it could just be a matter of time before you're successful. Only 60 percent of couples trying to conceive are pregnant within six months. About 80 percent are successful by one year, and another 10 percent are will conceive by 18 months.

It's also important to review your timing. Studies suggest that a woman is most likely to conceive if she has sexual intercourse within the five days before and during ovulation. Ovulation occurs 14 days before your next menstrual cycle begins. If you have 28-day cycles each month, you're likely to ovulate on day 14 (counting day one as the first day of menstrual bleeding). If your cycles are 35 days, ovulation occurs on day 21. So aim to have sex every day or two during a seven to 10 day time frame around ovulation. You can purchase an over-the-counter ovulation detector kit if you want confirmation.

Besides ensuring correct timing, you should consider other factors that could impair fertility. These include getting older (fertility decreases for men and women with increasing age), endocrine problems (such as thyroid imbalance) or medical conditions of your ovaries, uterus or fallopian tubes. You should also consider your husband's health.

Ask yourself the following:

Are you over 35?

Was your first delivery a Caesarean or very difficult?

Have your menstrual cycles changed substantially since your last pregnancy?

Have you had a cervical or pelvic infection since your last pregnancy?

Do you tend to have severe menstrual cramping or experience pain with sexual relations?

Has your husband had any major illnesses or taken new medication?

Do you or your husband smoke, drink alcohol or use any drugs?

Did you have any major weight change since your last delivery?

If you answered no to all of these questions, it's reasonable to continue well-timed intercourse and wait a few more months before seeking medical attention. If you answered yes to any, I'd recommend consulting a gynecologist or fertility specialist. There may be tests that could identify the source of your difficulty and potential treatments that could lead to a successful pregnancy.