Fertility Myths
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Lexy Pacheco
Reviewed by Lexy Pacheco
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It may surprise you to learn that there are numerous fertility myths that may influence your decision to have children.
The issue of infertility is one that affects a large number of people globally and is becoming more prevalent than we may realize. Unfortunately, though, despite being a more widespread problem, there are also a lot of relatively false myths and ideas surrounding it.
These misconceptions might cause couples who are already coping with the emotional strain of trying to conceive additional worry and uncertainty.
For this reason, we would want to discuss all of this in a little bit today in the hopes that it will help people who have made the decision to start this amazing adventure of parenthood and are looking for knowledge.
In actuality, there is a 25% chance that a couple may become pregnant during the first month of unprotected sex. This probability rises to 75% after six months and reaches 85% at the end of the first year.
After this moment, it's considered that there's an issue when conception gets tough, and that's when these myths start to surface that we are going to dispel today:
1. Infertility only affects women.
Infertility is defined as not being able to conceive within the first year in 15% of couples.
Contrary to popular belief, women account for a smaller percentage of infertility cases than men. Specifically, women account for 40% of infertility reasons, men for 40%, and mixed causes for 20% of cases. For this reason, it's crucial that both partners get tested and analyzed if they wish to become pregnant in order to figure out what's going on.
It is true that infertility issues can affect both men and women.
2. Infertility problems are always physical.
In actuality, a variety of physiological, psychological, and emotional variables can lead to infertility. For instance, stress can significantly impair fertility because it can change the hormonal balance, which in turn can affect men's sperm production and women's ovulation and fertility.
Furthermore, mental health issues including anxiety and sadness might impact fertility. Tensions in relationships can also be a factor; infertile couples may feel more tension in their relationships, which can make their reproductive issues worse.
3. Taking contraceptive pills preserves fertility.
No, fertility is not preserved by using contraceptive pills. The use of birth control tablets is a dependable and easily reversible technique of birth control; fertility should nearly instantly return when the pills are stopped.
Contraceptive methods are ineffective in 100% of cases, and there is always a danger of getting pregnant even when using them. Moreover, these contraceptives offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections (STDs), which have the potential to impact or impair fertility.
4. If you relax, you will get pregnant.
Although it is true that long-term stress can affect fertility by changing the balance of hormones and other biological processes, merely suggesting relaxation is not a foolproof way to treat infertility. There are numerous physical, genetic, and/or hormonal variables that might contribute to infertility, which is a complicated medical disease.
Because it can make couples feel bad or ashamed for not being able to "relax enough" to get pregnant, this myth can be particularly detrimental. Rather of relying on well-meaning but ultimately inaccurate advice, infertile couples require medical and emotional support. It is crucial to seek assistance from healthcare professionals.
5. The more sex, the more chances of pregnancy.
The likelihood of getting pregnant is actually completely unaffected by the quantity of sexual encounters. A woman only ovulates once during her cycle, and this egg has only twenty-four hours to be fertilized, thus timing is crucial to becoming pregnant. Not only can daily sexual activity be monotonous and draining, but it can also lower the quality of semen.
As a result, specialists advise against focusing about fertile days and instead having intercourse every two or three days during the menstrual cycle. In this method, spontaneity and enjoyment are encouraged and a larger sperm reserve is guaranteed.
6. Men are always fertile.
Another widespread misconception is that guys cannot become pregnant and that women are the only ones who are fertile. This is untrue.
Age, stress, smoking, drinking, or changing one's diet can also have an impact on the number and quality of sperm. A male is deemed to have low semen quality by the World Health Organization if his sperm count is less than 15 million per milliliter or if less than 4% of them have a normal shape. According to estimates, male factors account for between 30% and 40% of occurrences of infertility.
These are only a few of the urban legends regarding fertility that might lead to unrealistic expectations or resentment among women who aspire to become moms. If you are unsure or have trouble getting pregnant, it is advisable to educate yourself and seek professional advice.
Keep in mind that every situation is different and that you have a lot of options to realize your desire of being a parent. If you are unsure or experiencing trouble conceiving, it is crucial that you get solid information and speak with an assisted reproduction specialist.
Fertility is a complex issue that depends on many factors, both physical and psychological, and varies from person to person, as all bodies and all people are different.