TTC

Trying to Conceive: what to buy

What to expect

This stage is mostly about timing and information: tracking your cycle, spotting your fertile window, and ruling out easy fixes before anything more involved. For most couples it takes a few cycles, not one — the gear here is about giving you clearer signal each month, not guaranteeing a result.

Why get this sorted now

A decent ovulation tracker or fertility monitor turns guesswork into a pattern you can actually see, which matters if you end up needing to describe your cycle to a GP later. Prenatal vitamins are worth starting now rather than after a positive test, since folic acid needs time in your system before conception.

What to buy first

A prenatal vitamin with folic acid — start this before you conceive, not after a positive test.
An ovulation test kit or app to work out your fertile window.
A pack of pregnancy tests, so you're not making a pharmacy run at an awkward moment.

Typical spend for this stage

~£45

Rough estimate, based on one pick per essential category — not every option on the page.

What you could do without

Premium fertility-tracking wearables — a £15 ovulation strip kit tells you the same core information as a £150 ring for most people.
Fertility "boost" supplements beyond a standard prenatal vitamin, unless a doctor has specifically recommended one.
A basal body thermometer if you already get a clear reading from ovulation strips — the two are largely redundant.