Infertility Myths

Myth 1: if you are over 35 then you will have to undergo fertility treatment to become pregnant

Fact: it is more difficult to conceive once you reach the age of 35 or older but it is not impossible. Fertility does decrease with age but if you are unable to conceive naturally then fertility treatment can help.

Myth 2: it is a problem for women only.

Fact: infertility can be a problem for men as well as women and in fact, both couples can be affected. In couples, 40% of men suffer from primary infertility.

And 20% of all infertility cases are male related so men are not exempt after all.

There are many reasons for male infertility which require further investigation.

Myth 3: stress causes infertility

Fact: if you are trying for a baby without any success then you will become stressed but this doesn’t actually cause infertility. Infertility is a physical condition, related to the reproductive system rather than a psychological one.

Myth 4: daily sexual intercourse will increase your chance of becoming pregnant

Fact: sadly this is not the case! Sperm stays active inside the woman for around 2 to 3 days following sex. So, have sex every 36 to 48 hours around the time of ovulation rather than on a daily basis.

This is particularly important if the man has a low sperm count as he will need a day or more for it to rise to normal levels.

Myth 5: you end up giving birth to twins or triplets after fertility treatment

Fact: fertility treatment can increase the likelihood of this happening but it is not a definite result. Advances in treatment have reduced the risk of this happening and the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Association (HFEA) has placed a restriction on the number of embryos that can be transferred during In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) in order to reduce this risk.

Myth 6: if you have had a baby before then you will have no problem conceiving again

Fact: Unfortunately there are no guarantees when it comes to conception. You could naturally assume that being fertile before means that you will be able to conceive again but, sadly that is not always the case.

There is a condition called primary infertility which is experienced by couples who are trying for their first child. And, there are some couples who are unable to conceive the second time around – known as secondary infertility.

If you are experiencing problems – whether this is your first pregnancy or your third then further tests will be needed.