Fertility myths: Distinguishing fact from fiction
It’s all too easy to get swept up in everything you read on the internet, but as with everything, there is a lot of misinformation and myths swirling around on the subject of fertility. Here, we distinguish fact from fiction, taking a look at some of the most common fertility myths and setting the record straight once and for all.
Foods can boost fertility
Myth (mostly)
This is a tricky one two answer: no individual foods can improve fertility. However, there is some evidence that has shown that following a Mediterranean diet can be beneficial for supporting conception and ensuring your body is in the best possible place to support a pregnancy. Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish like mackerel, anchovies, and salmon, may be beneficial for supporting fertility. In fact, one study showed that women taking omega-3 supplements had 1.51 times the probability of conceiving when compared to those not taking the supplements.
Male fertility doesn’t decline with age
Myth
This is another common misconception and in fact, the British Fertility Society suggests that men’s fertility starts to decline around age 40. Both the quality of sperm and the number of sperm produced declines, and continues to do so with age. Concerned about you or your partner’s sperm? Male fertility tests such as those offered by this fertility clinic in London will be able to give a good overview of your fertility status. If any anomalies are found they can be treated effectively and efficiently.
You can only get pregnant when ovulating
Myth
The ovulation window is widely accepted as the time period in which you are most likely to get pregnant through intercourse. The ovulation window lasts for around five days and typically occurs between 10 and 16 days before the start of the next period (depending on your individual cycle). It covers the time when the egg is released from the ovaries each cycle. Although many women choose to measure their body temperature to ascertain when the ovulation window is, it is also very easy to tell by looking at the texture of vaginal discharge as it will become thinner and clearer. Despite the ovulation window being what most people conceiving aim for, it is worth bearing in mind that you can get pregnant at any point in your cycle.
Young people can’t be infertile
Myth
Although it is natural to assume that only older women and men may be infertile, this is not necessarily the case. Although it is true that older women are more likely to experience infertility, there are many health conditions that are prevalent in younger individuals that result in an infertility diagnosis. Some examples include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), fibroids, and ovulation disorders, to name a few.
Smoking has no impact on fertility
Myth
The truth is that smoking doesn’t only increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and lung disease but it can also lead to issues with fertility – both in men and women.
Women experience a natural decline in the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries as they age but the nicotine, cyanide, carbon monoxide, and other toxins in cigarette smoke can increase the speed of this even further. Once the eggs die off, they cannot be replaced. The Office on Women’s Health states that women who smoke will reach the menopause (the point at which ovulation stops and pregnancy is no longer possible) an average of four years younger than women who do not smoke.
When it comes to men who smoke, they may experience lower sperm quality and lower sperm count, in addition to lower motility (how the sperm moves). To put it bluntly, all aspects of sperm production are affected by smoking.
If you or your partner are smokers and you are trying to get pregnant, it can be really beneficial to your efforts to stop smoking whilst you are trying to conceive.
If you relax, you’ll get pregnant
Myth
What we know is that when stressed – particularly when chronically stressed – the stress hormone, cortisol, affects the pituitary gland. This caused disruption to the body’s sex hormones, like oestrogen and progesterone, causing them to become unbalanced. Why is this an issue? The sex hormones are vital for normal reproductive function, which includes releasing the eggs from the ovaries. They are also essential for supporting pregnancy. A study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Oxford (2010) shows a negative correlation between high levels of alpha-amylase, which is used as a measure of the body’s stress, and the chance of conception. Whilst it’s all well and good telling women to relax, with our busy lives this is often easier said than done. After all, simply saying it does not make it so.
Infertility is woman’s problem
Myth
Infertility is often painted in the media as an issue for women but this is not the case at all. There are a surprisingly high number of infertility cases linked to men. Indeed, The British Medical Journal (BMJ) states that male factor infertility is responsible for up to 30% of cases of infertility. In men, infertility can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions including genetic defects, hormone imbalances, sexually transmitted infections, issues with blockages in the tubes in the testicles, certain medications like steroids, and even environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking and heavy alcohol use.
If you’ve already had one baby, don’t worry, the next will be easy
Myth
It may surprise you to learn that even if you’ve already had a child, that doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t struggle to get pregnant the second time around. When couples struggle to get pregnant after already having given birth, this is referred to as secondary infertility. The British Fertility Society suggests that around 5% of the UK population experience secondary fertility. Whether it’s your first or third time trying to get pregnant, if it’s not happening for you, it’s time to seek help.
Knowledge is king
When trying to conceive it’s important to have all the facts and not fall foul of fertility myths to ensure you give yourself the best possible chance of getting pregnant. If you are struggling to conceive, the most important step you can take is to seek advice from a fertility doctor as early on as possible.
