Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn department at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor to national health agencies on women's health issues and has received numerous international honors for this work.

Q: It took two years to conceive my first child without the help of fertility treatments. Should I expect it to take as long when we try for a second baby? I'm 33 years old.

A: If your doctor didn't identify any reason for the delay, and you received no treatments, then the fact that you have had a successful pregnancy makes conception more likely statistically than if you had never conceived before. At 33, you are still young enough that there is no great urgency. However, if you don't conceive within a year of the time you start trying, you would probably be advised to see a doctor about it.