When you’re trying to conceive, it can feel like there’s an overwhelming amount of advice, tests, and information out there — some helpful, some not so much.
Over the years in clinic, I’ve noticed a few recurring fertility mistakes that many women make without realising. These are things that can delay conception or cause unnecessary stress, but they’re also very fixable with the right support.
Here are three common fertility mistakes I see — and what you can do instead to support your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
1. Relying on an App to Predict Ovulation
Period tracking apps are a popular tool, and they can be really helpful for spotting patterns in your cycle. However, they rely on algorithms and past data to predict when you might ovulate — they don’t actually confirm ovulation has happened.
This can be a big problem when you’re trying to conceive. Ovulation is influenced by many factors including stress, illness, and sleep — so your body might ovulate earlier or later than usual from month to month. An app can’t detect that shift in real time.
What to do instead: I recommend charting your basal body temperature (BBT) for at least three months. This helps you:
For example, a small or short-lived temperature rise can confirm ovulation but may also suggest low progesterone, which can affect implantation and early pregnancy. Having this information allows us to support your body more effectively and tailor treatment to your specific needs.
2. Taking GP Fertility Tests at Face Value
Your GP is an important first step when you’re exploring fertility, but their role is usually to screen for serious medical issues, not to assess for optimal fertility. So if your results come back as “normal,” it often just means there’s no urgent concern — not that your fertility is at its best.
Fertility is complex, and what’s “normal” on paper might not be ideal for you. Hormone levels that sit within the general reference range may still be too high or low to support conception for your body.
What to do instead: Seek individualised care that looks beyond the standard test results. In my clinic, we assess your hormone health holistically — including how your cycle behaves, how stress or lifestyle may be affecting your hormones, and whether your results are truly optimal for fertility, not just average.
Small adjustments can make a big difference when they’re based on your unique body.
3. Jumping Into IVF Without Laying the Foundations
IVF can be a powerful tool for many couples — and for some, it’s a necessary part of their journey. But what I often see is women being rushed into fertility treatment without exploring the underlying reasons why they haven’t conceived naturally.
Low AMH, for instance, is one of the most misunderstood fertility markers. It’s often treated as an emergency requiring immediate IVF, but AMH simply reflects your ovarian reserve — not your ability to get pregnant right now.
Many women with low AMH still conceive naturally, especially when their hormones and environment are well supported.
What to do instead: Before starting IVF or assisted conception, it’s important to:
Doing this groundwork can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy — whether it’s naturally or through IVF — and often leads to better outcomes with fewer cycles and less emotional toll.
Fertility isn’t one-size-fits-all. By understanding your body, confirming ovulation, looking beyond “normal” test results, and building strong foundations before treatment, you’ll be in a much stronger position to support a healthy pregnancy — naturally or with medical help.
If you’d like guidance on how to track your cycle, improve hormone balance, or prepare for IVF, I’d love to support you. At our Fertility Acupuncture Clinic we offer a personalised, gentle approach that can make all the difference on your journey to conception. To book a free 15-minute discovery call or skip straight to a consultation click here.
