Healthy Habits: The Top 10 Myths of Infertility

Infertility is an often treatable problem that has caused emotional turmoil in humans throughout history. Since it is such a prevalent topic, many people have many opinions about it, but not all of these opinions are real. Many of them are just myths. 

It is always the woman's fault.

This is the top myth surrounding infertility. Oftentimes, the man has a problem with his reproductive system as well. There could be issues with both the man and the woman's reproductive system. In any case, infertility almost certainly was not chosen by a person trying to have a child. 

The parents need to relax.

It is true that chronically stressed people are more likely to be infertile, but this is not the case with all parents. Some parents have been trying to have a child for years, and their stress surrounding their inability to conceive results simply from that inability. Infertility is a medical problem that usually needs to be addressed by a doctor. 

Scientific advancements have made the eggs of older women healthier.

This is also not the whole truth. Of course, it is possible for doctors to aid an older woman in getting pregnant, but the woman's eggs still begin to rapidly decline in quality around her thirties. As of now, science cannot halt or reverse a person's biological clock. 

In-vitro fertilization works for everyone.

While it may seem obvious, many people seem to think IVF is guaranteed. Even the youngest women less than a 50% chance of having a child through IVF, and the probability continuously decreases through life. IVF is wonderful for the people it works for, but it hurts those who it fails, financially and emotionally. 

The parents haven't tried hard enough.

This is something friends or family tend to say towards couples they know are attempting to have a baby. Typically, adults know exactly what must occur to conceive, and they are doing everything just fine. The problems with infertility usually lay out of the control of parents, friends, and family. 

Only older women have to worry about infertility - not older men.

It is true that the decline in women's fertility is faster than men's, men still decline in their ability to reproduce with age. As men grow old, their sperm reflects this. They tend to produce less sperm, and the sperm that is produced has much lower motility. This will undoubtedly make it harder to have a child. 

Infertility isn't a problem for people who have a child.

Infertility problems are independent of the number of children a person may or may not have. A problem in the reproductive system could begin after a child is born, affecting further ability to reproduce. 

General health does not impact fertility.

This is false. When a person is in poor health, the whole body suffers. Anatomy and physiology functions in such a way that one mistake in the heart can cause problems in something as far away as the reproductive system. 

Alcohol consumption doesn't affect fertility

While it is okay to occasionally drink while attempting to have a child, consuming too much alcohol will ultimately make it harder to conceive. Alcohol interrupts the reproductive system by creating low sperm counts and irregular cycles.  

Birth control pills make it harder to get pregnant once they are no longer taken

Once a woman stops taking birth control, her cycle may not be completely normal, but the pill will not make getting pregnant take too long. Most women can get pregnant relatively soon after they stop taking the pill.