Kate McCarthy of Oakland, Calif., took charge of her fertility in her early 30s. When it was time to try to get pregnant, it took her five cycles for success. She's expecting her first child later this winter in February.

McCarthy boosted her fertility with regular acupuncture treatments. The sessions smoothed out her irregular periods. She also exercised regularly, and made sure she was well rested before trying to conceive.

"Try to take time out – get away from a busy schedule," says McCarthy, who gave her own body a few months to recoup after she became a licensed acupuncturist herself. "I've seen it repeatedly. I know a hard-working lawyer who tried to get pregnant for two years. She decided to take one month off of work and got pregnant then."

From acupuncture to exercise to just plain resting, below are some of the best practices you can do when you're trying to conceive.

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