MYTH #1
Infertility is an inconvenience.
Wrong! In 2009, Infertility was officially designated as a disease by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body’s ability to perform the basic function of reproduction.
MYTH #2
Infertility is rare.
Infertility is actually more common than you might think. 1 in 8 couples has trouble conceiving or sustaining a pregnancy. Infertility affects 6.7 million in the U.S. alone which is about 11% of the
reproductive age population. (Source: National Survey of Family Growth, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2006-2010).
MYTH #3
Infertility is always due to the woman.
The breakdown of infertility causes includes 35% due to female factors, 35% from male factors, 20% are a combination of both male and female factors, while 10% are unexplained.
MYTH #4
Infertility does not effect young women.
Infertility does not discriminate by age, race or religion. Women can experience infertility in their 20’s, 30’s and beyond. The chance of conceiving declines with age but it can strike women of any reproductive age.
MYTH #5
I am super healthy and in shape, conceiving will be easy for me.
If you lead a generally healthy lifestyle, it can boost your fertility potential. However, no matter how healthy a woman is, nothing can change the age of the eggs. An otherwise healthy 30-year-old woman has a roughly 15 - 20% chance of conceiving naturally each month, while an otherwise healthy 40-year-old woman has about a 5% chance of conceiving naturally each month.
MYTH #6
It's easy to get pregnant.....if you just relax.
For some, it is easy to get pregnant. For many, it takes work. Each individual or couple’s fertility potential is a unique situation comprised of their own specific factors that may affect fertility.
MYTH #7
Having sex daily will increase my chances of getting pregnant.
This is indeed false (sorry gentlemen!). Having sex every other day around ovulation is actually better for sperm quality.
MYTH #8
IVF will give me twins (or more)!
Definitely false! A singleton pregnancy is the goal - it is safer for both mom and baby. IVF allows for control of the number of embryos transferred. Advances in assisted reproductive technology have improved success with fewer embryos transferred per cycle.
MYTH #9
If I just keep trying each month, it will happen for me….eventually.
Sometimes help IS needed. It is recommended to see a reproductive endocrinologist (fertility doctor) if a woman under the age of 35 has been unsuccessful conceiving after a year of unprotected intercourse or a woman over the age of 35 who is unsuccessful after attempting conception for 6 months.
MYTH #10
I had no trouble getting pregnant the first time, the second will be just as easy.
This is not always the case. Each pregnancy attempt is different. Many infertility patients experience secondary infertility which is defined as difficulty conceiving after having a child.
To learn more about Embrace Fertility's programs click here.
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