Stress can exacerbate the problem, it most certainly is not the root cause of an infertility problem. Infertility can be related to multiple different things: endometriosis, PCOS, low ovarian reserve, low AMH, poor egg quality, poor sperm quality, poor sperm motility, etc and let’s be real- infertility causes a whole lot of stress.
Myth #2: Women Under 30 Have No Problem Conceiving
Remember how growing up, you always hear that having sex just once will cause you to conceive? After battling infertility, this myth really gets under my skin. It’s true that some women can get pregnant on their first try (or without even trying), but for the majority of us that is just not the case. It can take up to one year for couples to conceive and timing must be perfect for conception to occur.
Myth #3: Infertility is a Female Issue
So not true! Infertility can be either due to male or female factor. In fact, according to the National Institue of Health, approximately 40-50% of infertility cases are due to male factor. Male factor infertility is typically due to issues with semen quality, count or motility and affects around 7% of males worldwide.
Myth #4: IVF Is the Only Treatment for Infertility
This one is popularized by TV Shows and Movies a lot. However, there are so many different options that can be utilized before IVF. There are medications such as Clomid, Letrozole and Ovidrel. Depending on the severity of the infertilty, doctor’s can recommend medications in conjunction with timed intercourse. If that doesn’t work, they may recommend an IUI cycle or two. IVF is typically used as the last resort as it is the most invasive and costly option for couples struggling with infertility.
The sad truth is that unfortunatley it can take up to two weeks to know if you’re pregnant. Most doctor’s recommend waiting until at least 3 days after a missed period to test, but that can be so hard! Typically a pregnancy test can tell you as soon as 6 days before a missed period.
Myth #6: Having Sex Everyday Will Lead to a Higher Probabilty of Conception
You really only need to have sex during your fertile window. This typically lasts about 5 days and, if you have regular cycles, will traditionally be about 14 days after the start of your period. If, however, you are infertile or have irregular cycles, using an Ovulation Predictor Kit to track your cycle will test you when it is best. If you are dealing with male factor infertility, some doctors will tell you only to have sex every other day.
Myth #7: IVF Guarantees a Baby
Success rates using Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) such as IVF are not as high as you may think. In fact, the CDC’s Fertility Clinic Success Rates Reports from 2017 and 2018 show that only about 24% of all ARTs performed in these years resulted in the live birth of a child.
Reach out to your doctor to learn more about your own fertility and remember, do not believe all of the rumors that you hear!
