Infertility has been a mystery for as long as people have been having children. Although we've come a long way in the research of infertility, many misconceptions remain. This is a list of common modern infertility myths.
Myth 1: Infertility is almost always a woman's problem.
Fact: When the cause of infertility can be identified, about half of the time men contribute to the problem. In the Journal of Urology, an article explains that about 20% of the time, a male factor is "solely responsible" to an infertile couple. It also states that another 30% to 40% of the time, a make contributes to the problem.
Myth 2: Many infertile couples are trying too hard. If they would just relax, they would conceive right away.
Fact: Relaxation alone won't help anyone become a parent. Instead of booking that extremely relaxing vacation, an infertile couple should instead schedule a doctor's appointment. Either partner, or even both, may have a correctable medical condition that stands in the way of conception. If there's no obvious physical explanation for infertility, a doctor can suggest lifestyle changes that could boost the odds of parenthood.
Myth 3: Most couples can conceive any time they want.
Fact: According to Resolve, a national infertility organization, more than 7.3 million Americans of childbearing age have fertility problems. Even under the best circumstances, conception is tricky. It's not unusual for a perfectly healthy, fertile couple to try for several months or more before achieving a pregnancy. And the longer couples wait to have children, the more difficult it can be: By the time the average woman reaches her early forties, half of her eggs are no longer viable. However, most couples who can afford fertility treatments can eventually conceive if they are open to the use of egg donation.
Myth 4: Women begin to lose their fertility in their late 30s or early 40s.
Fact: According to a report in the journal Human Reproduction, a woman's fertility starts to decline at age 27, although this isn't clinically significant. Most women of this age can still get pregnant, of course, but it might take a few more months of trying. But by the time a woman reaches 35, her chances of getting pregnant during any particular attempt are about half of what they were between the ages of 19 and 26.
Myth 5: Boxer shorts and loose pants should be worn by prospective fathers.
Fact: A study at the University of New York at Stony Brook put this myth to the test and concluded that underwear style is unlikely to significantly affect a man's fertility. What that comes down to is that wearing roomy shorts probably won't help a man become a father -- but on the other hand, it won't hurt, either.
Myth 6: Little can be done to improve a man's sperm count.
Fact: No matter how small a man's sperm count is, he man still has reason for hope. Many men who produce little or no sperm have blockages or other treatable conditions. Lifestyle changes -- such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and staying out of hot tubs -- may also help.
Myth 7: A man's age doesn't affect his fertility.
Fact: While some men can father children into their 80s or 90s, male fertility isn't age-proof. A man's fertility usually begins to dip after about age 35. The decline is generally slow and gradual, but it can speed up dramatically if a man develops a condition that hampers sperm production (such as an infection in the genital tract).
Myth 8: Vasectomy reversals are rarely successful.
Fact: According to a report from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, some patients have a better than 50/50 chance of fathering a child after a vasectomy reversal. However, the longer a man waits to have a reverse vasectomy, the lower the odds.
Myth 9: Infertility means you can't have a child.
Fact: Infertility means that you have been unable to have a child naturally after a year of trying. With the proper treatment, many people go on to have children. In addition, there is a possibility of a couple conceiving without treatment if the woman is ovulating and has one open tube, and the male partner has some sperm in his ejaculate. This rate may be lower than you would hope, but it is not zero.
If you're struggling with infertility, you probably have questions of your own -- and maybe even a few misconceptions. Schedule an appointment with us and find out where you stand. Thanks to modern medicine, many infertile couples become parents -- and that's no myth.
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