Your Summer TTC Checklist: Everything to Do Before You Start Trying

The Medical Checklist

• Schedule a preconception visit. Not a regular annual exam — specifically tell them you’re planning to TTC. They’ll check different things: thyroid, rubella immunity, blood type, medication review.
• Get bloodwork. Request: TSH (thyroid), vitamin D, ferritin (iron stores), fasting glucose, and a CBC. Low vitamin D and low iron are the two most common correctable issues in TTC women.
• Check your vaccinations. Rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and Tdap all need to be current before pregnancy. If you need a live vaccine (MMR, varicella), you’ll need to wait 4 weeks before conceiving.
• Review medications with your provider. Some common medications are not safe during pregnancy: isotretinoin (Accutane), certain antidepressants, some blood pressure meds, and NSAIDs during the luteal phase. Your doctor may need to switch you.
• Get a dental cleaning. Not glamorous, but gum disease is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. Get ahead of it.
• STI screening. Chlamydia and gonorrhea can silently cause tubal damage. Even if you’ve been monogamous, it’s worth a baseline screen.

The Supplement Checklist

• Start a prenatal vitamin NOW. Not when you get pregnant — now. Folate takes 4–12 weeks to build to protective levels for neural tube development. Our pick: FullWell Prenatal. See the LifeFertile prenatal showdown.
• Add CoQ10 (200–400mg daily). Supports egg quality by enhancing mitochondrial function. Takes 2–3 months to reach therapeutic levels. Start early. Ubiquinol CoQ10 on Amazon →
• Check your vitamin D. If under 40 ng/mL, supplement 2,000–4,000 IU daily. Vitamin D3 →
• For him: start zinc + CoQ10. Sperm takes 74 days to develop. The earlier he starts, the better. See LifeFertile’s male fertility diet plan.

The Tracking Checklist

• Choose a cycle tracking method. At minimum: OPK (ovulation predictor kit) strips. Easy@Home 50-pack → See our OPK Brand Showdown.
• Download a tracking app. Premom (syncs with Easy@Home strips), Fertility Friend (most data-driven), or Flo (most user-friendly).
• Start tracking now, even before TTC. Two months of data gives you a pattern. You’ll know your approximate fertile window before you even start trying.
• Consider BBT tracking. Basal body temperature confirms ovulation after the fact. Pair with OPKs for the most complete picture. See our BBT thermometer guide.

The Lifestyle Checklist

• Cut caffeine to under 200mg/day. One 12oz coffee is fine. Two large lattes is too much. Start reducing now so it’s not a shock.
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol. No safe level has been established for conception. During the TWW (two-week wait), abstaining is the conservative play.
• Switch to mineral sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens (oxybenzone, octinoxate) are endocrine disruptors. See LifeFertile’s sunscreen guide.
• Ditch plastic food storage. Switch to glass containers. Microwave nothing in plastic. Glass containers →
• Exercise 150+ minutes per week. Walking counts. Swimming counts. Yoga counts. Just move consistently.
• Prioritize sleep: 7–9 hours nightly. Melatonin (the sleep hormone) is a powerful antioxidant in the ovaries.

The Emotional Checklist

• Talk to your partner about expectations. How long will you try before seeking help? How will you handle the TWW anxiety? Are you on the same page about timing?
• Decide who to tell. Some people share immediately; others keep it private. There’s no wrong answer, but decide together before the questions start.
• Build your support system. Identify one trusted person (friend, family member, therapist) you can be honest with about the process.
• Set boundaries around baby showers and announcements. If these are emotionally difficult, give yourself permission to skip or limit them.