8 Fertility Myths, Debunked
Surveys show that many women are misinformed about fertility and conception. Do you know the facts behind these common rumors?
By Elizabeth Shimer BowersMedically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Fertility can be a very confusing topic, and theres a lot of misinformation about it. In fact, just 14 percent of women surveyed recently by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine knew the length of time it can take to achieve pregnancy, and less than 10 percent accurately guessed the likelihood of becoming pregnant across different age groups. To help clear a few things up, here are some commonly believed pregnancy myths that can negatively affect womens health and the ability to conceive.
Fertility Myth: 45 Is the New 35
Reality: While you might look younger than your mom did when she was your age, your eggs dont reflect this youthful exuberance. Live birth rates in women sink from an already tepid 28.4 percent at age 40 to 0 percent by age 46, according to research done at a Boston infertility center that looked at 2,700 women undergoing in vitro fertilization.
How to Improve The Chances of Getting Pregnant
In fact, your fertility starts to decline in your late twenties. Women go from approximately 2 million eggs to 0 between birth and menopause, says Daniel Potter, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility in Southern California. Women who want to postpone pregnancy beyond age 35 should consider having their ovarian reserve baselines tested to determine how much time they have left. You can also freeze your embryos or eggs when youre younger to preserve fertility later in life, he adds.
Fertility Myth: Drinking Cough Syrup Improves Pregnancy Chances
Reality: The mucolytics [chemicals that help loosen mucus and make a cough more productive] in cough syrup may also make cervical secretions more liquid and inviting to sperm, says Charla Blacker, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist with the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. But you have to drink a lot of cough syrup to get the effect.
Taking more than the recommended dose of any medicine or using it in a way other than what it was designed for is never a good idea. However, as an alternative to cough syrup, Blacker says, Mucinex, which is sold over the counter, can do the same thing with a pill twice daily.
Fertility Myth: Its Easier to Get Pregnant the Second Time
Reality: Women who have gotten pregnant before are more fertile than the population at large, which accounts for this misconception. Pregnancy itself is a test of the fertility system, so women with a prior pregnancy know that at least at that time everything was right, Dr. Blacker explains. However, some of my most frustrated patients are those who conceived easily the first time and are now having trouble. To treat secondary infertility, the same potential causes need to be evaluated as in those having trouble the first time.
Fertility Myth: The Best Time to Have Sex Is After Your Temperature Rises
Reality: Women facing infertility are often told to take a body temperature reading first thing every morning, looking for that small increase that may signal the best time to get pregnant each month. Unfortunately, a temperature rise [which indicates ovulation has taken place] only gives you information after the fact, Dr. Potter says. Instead, I would recommend women aiming for pregnancy look at their average cycle length the number of days between day one of your period and the next day one of your period subtract 14 days, and have intercourse three days in a row, with the day calculated above being the second day.
Fertility Myth: Your Sexual Position Affects Your Fertility
Reality: There have been few studies that have been able to demonstrate differences in conception rate based on sexual position, Blacker says of this commonly held fertility belief. However, its important that a woman not jump right up after intercourse. Lying quietly for a few minutes for the sperm to get to their destination can be helpful in achieving pregnancy.
Fertility Myth: Infertility Is a Female Problem
Reality: Causes for infertility are split right down the middle. Roughly 40 percent of infertility cases arise from female causes, such as ovulation problems, tubal disease, or endometriosis," Blacker says. "Another 40 percent arise from male problems, such as low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or abnormally shaped sperm. And 20 percent of couples will have something go wrong on both the female and the male sides to prevent pregnancy."
Fertility Myth: You Should Only Have Sex During Ovulation
Reality: Studies have actually shown the highest pregnancy rates in couples having daily intercourse around the fertile time, Blacker says. In fact, the worst thing a couple can do, particularly when youre dealing with infertility, is to save up for that one day. Not only do you have an excellent chance of missing the big day, Blacker adds, but older sperm are less motile and more likely to contain genetic abnormalities.
Fertility Myth: Stopping Birth Control Makes You Extra Fertile
Reality: Among 2,000 women who stopped taking birth control pills to try to have a baby, just 21 percent became pregnant within one cycle of stopping, according to a respected European study on oral contraceptives. This rate is nearly the same as the natural pregnancy rate of 20 percent to 25 percent per menstrual cycle in women not using any birth control.
For normally ovulating women, there may actually be a delay in fertility for a few months after stopping the pill, Blacker says. However, this shouldnt stop couples who want to get pregnant from trying at this time.
Last Updated: 07/13/2012
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