Getting Pregnant is Easy: Fertility Myths vs. Facts

Many misperceptions surround the subjects of conception and fertility, in large part due to the fact that these topics aren’t generally discussed among friends and family, and many people don’t even bring them up with their doctors. The following are some common myths about fertility and the facts that may surprise you.

Myth: Getting pregnant is easy.

Fact: While it may appear some women can get pregnant easily, the fact is one in eight couples in the United States will experience problems with fertility.

Myth: Lots of women are waiting until their 40s to start a family, so I have plenty of time.

Fact: While news abounds about celebrities having children well into their 40s, some of these women may actually be using donor eggs, or even surrogate carriers. The truth of the matter is the longer you wait to try to become pregnant, the slimmer your chances of conceiving. Fertility begins to decline for women at age 27 and dramatically declines by the age of 35. After age 40, women who do become pregnant face a 50 percent chance of miscarriage, so the earlier a couple seeks a fertility evaluation, the better able they’ll be to take steps to conceive.

Myth: If you have a regular period, you can conceive.

Fact: A woman’s fertility can be impacted even though there are no disruptions with her menstrual cycle. A period does not necessarily mean that a woman is ovulating or releasing an egg. A couple should speak to their physician if they are under the age of 35 and have been attempting to conceive for one year without success. If the couple is over the age of 35, they should seek treatment if they have been trying to conceive without success for six months.

Myth: A couple’s fertility problems are caused by the woman.

Fact: This is one of the most commonly believed fertility myths. In fact, fertility problems can be attributed to the man 35 percent of the time and to the woman 35 percent. In 20 percent of cases, it is a combined man/woman problem and in 10 percent of cases the problem is unexplained. Should they suspect problems, both the man and the woman should undergo a full fertility evaluation.

Myth: Home remedies, such as taking cough syrup, can help you get pregnant.

Fact: It is never a good idea to self-medicate based on these kinds of legends. There is no proof, either in clinical or observational studies, that these products have any effect on fertility. Talking to your doctor about your options to become pregnant is the best way to help you conceive.

Myth: An OB/Gyn specializes in fertility and can provide all of the services needed to treat fertility problems.

Fact: When a couple experiences trouble getting pregnant, they should first speak with the woman’s OB/Gyn about their concerns. While most OB/Gyns do not have a specialty in fertility, they will be able to answer a couple’s basic questions and some may offer limited services to treat fertility problems. However, when these preliminary tests and treatments do not resolve a fertility problem, an OB/Gyn may refer the couple to a specialist, known as a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). REs have special training and equipment that enable them to provide the treatment and attention needed for couples facing fertility issues.

Myth: If you stop worrying and just relax, you’ll get pregnant.

Fact: Fertility problems are often medical in nature and can be treated. The associated stress is a result – not a cause – of these problems. While reducing the stress associated with fertility problems may improve your overall quality of life, it does not mean that you will conceive if you “just relax.” Talk to your doctor about ways to incorporate stress reduction into your fertility treatment plan to make the process easier on you and your partner.

The best way to debunk common misperceptions and learn the facts on fertility and conception is to talk to your doctor and educate yourself through trusted sources, such as www.fertilityjourney.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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There are dozens of factors that affect the odds of conception, some more important than others.

Caffeine intake does affect fertility for both men and women. Brewed coffee has between 100-300 mg of caffeine, while cappucino has between 300-400 mg and decaf (not surprisingly) has only 1-8 mg. Those concerned that caffeine might be an issue should limit themselves to no more than two cups per day.

Conditions in both men and women are about equally likely to be the reason pregnancy doesn’t occur.

A small percentage of men have low sperm motility, a condition in which sperm cells don’t actively move enough to make the trip up to the egg. Caffeine or excessive alcohol consumption can have some small effect on this, but in general the condition is either genetic or a temporary condition due to disease.

Or, a man may have a low sperm count, though again this is true of fewer than 10%. Heavy alcohol use can be a factor, but here again it’s generally the result of inheritance or recent illness. In some cases this is due, for example, to high fever.

That’s the true part of the statement that heat causes low sperm counts. This is temporary, though. The mythical part of the ‘heat produces low sperm count’ is the belief that hot tubs or underwear affects sperm count. The myth grew out of common laboratory observations that high temperature reduces sperm count in tests. But the temperature required is much higher than the shift produced by wearing jockey shorts or other lifestyle choices.

Fertility odds can be affected by issues women may experience, as well. ‘Infertility’ is often a matter of degrees. Very few women are completely infertile. For some women, the uterine environment causes implantation to be less likely. Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, is responsible for about 15% of low female fertility. Irregular ovulation is a problem for others. In about 20% of low fertility cases, some issue with the fallopian tubes is responsible.

For some, it’s simply a matter of keeping better track of the menstrual cycle. Maintaining an accurate chart of basal body temperature and monthly events can help. They should be recorded at least once daily, preferably twice – once in the morning, once in the evening.

Being considerably overweight reduces a woman’s chances of pregnancy, since it affects ovulation and overall hormonal factors. Body fat levels 10-15% over the normal range produces excess estrogen, which affects fertility. Hormonal imbalances in general, producing an irregular cycle or very heavy periods, can shift the odds. Anti-depressant and other medications can affect female fertility, as does heavy tobacco or alcohol consumption.

For those cases where the condition is not temporary, fertility treatments are an option. Most physicians won’t intervene, however, unless the couple has been trying natural methods for at least 18 months. Fertility treatments themselves are not foolproof, nor are they entirely without risk.

If you’ve been trying to become pregnant for over a year without success, your first best course of action is to consult a physician.

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