Dispelling The 10 Most Popular Infertility Myths
Due to various reasons and associated stigmas, there is a very limited conversation about infertility in our day to day life. Thus, owing to the lack of knowledge and misleading information on the web which couples chose to read, most people have false notions about infertility disorders, their symptoms, diagnosis, and cure.
In this blog today, we are trying to spread awareness by uncovering some of the most common myths surrounding infertility in men and women. Stay with us till the end:
Myth 1 : You just need to relax
Although there is no denying the fact that stress is a major risk factor for infertility in both the genders, infertility is not a psychological disorder and cannot be cured by simply relaxing, taking anti-depressants or going out on a vacation with your friends and family. Relaxation is complementary to infertility therapy. It does not supplement whole treatment.
There is another common misbelief where people think that adopting a child will help the couple to relax and eventually get pregnant. This is untrue, adoption is not a fertility drug.
Infertility is a broad term and points towards a large number of underlying issues that may be preventing the couple from growing their family. It is only after a thorough medical check-up of the couple with the help of ultrasound scans, blood tests, and semen analysis, that a fertility expert can prescribe medicines and treatment procedures for the couple to get pregnant.
Myth 2 : You need to try harder and more frequently
THAT WILL ONLY REDUCE CHANCES EVEN FURTHER. For some couples, practicing unprotected sexual intercourse for a year without success is a prominent sign of infertility. But most couples keep trying for months and years in the false hopes of pregnancy and childbirth. If your efforts are not translating to success, you must never get depressed thinking that you are not doing your best!
For a couple to experience parenthood, after an year of trying, it is wise to seek medical assistance from fertility specialists to either rule out the possibility of infertility or get the diagnosis done to begin with the treatment on time. Also, as advanced age is the leading causes of infertility, the sooner you plan a visit to a fertility clinic, the higher are your chances of conception in the least effort.
Myth 3 :Infertility means it is impossible for you to get pregnant
NOT AT ALL! Infertility is not the same as sterility. When a couple is unable to get pregnant naturally after trying for at least a year, it is assumed that there is something wrong in either or both the partners’ reproductive systems.
A couple may face issues in conceiving due to numerous factors such as advanced age, damaged fallopian tubes, poor ovarian reserve, low sperm count etc. With medical assistance from fertility specialists, and treatment procedures such as Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART), third-party fertility programs, etc, most couples are able to conceive and deliver healthy babies.
Myth 4 : Fertility is a woman’s issue
OF COURSE NOT! This is the biggest misconception that has been always been around the corner. A couple may find it difficult to get pregnant due to issues in the reproductive system of either the female partner, the male partner, or in some cases even both the partners. Male fertility disorders constitute to roughly the same percentage of infertility cases as female infertility. Thus, infertility is not just a woman’s issue.
Male infertility is attributed to poor sperm quality where the sperm lacks the adequate shape, size, count, and/or motility, difficulties in maintaining an erection, premature ejaculation, etc. These are the most prevalent causes of male infertility.
Myth 5 : Age only affects the fertility of women, not men
BOTH ARE AFFECTED, MEN LATER THAN WOMEN. Advancing age is known to adversely affect the fertility of both genders. Women who are between 30 to 35 of age experience a steep decline of roughly 50% in their fertility. This may be due to declining ovarian reserve, damage to fallopian tubes or early menopause.
After 40 years of age, men also face issues related to decreased semen volume and motility. Children born to men over the age of 40 have higher incidence of preterm delivery m, low birth weight, neonatal admission, seizures. Autism, breast and prostrate cancers are also more common in these kids. Thus, if a couple plans to grow their family size with natural or assisted pregnancy, the sooner they do, the better it is.
Myth 6 : If you already have a child, you need not worry about infertility
YOU STILL NEED TO WORRY. SAME RULES APPLY AS FOR THE FIRST TIME. There are recent statistics that clearly state that as many as 30% of all infertility cases were reported to be in couples who already had a baby and were trying for the second one. Thus, irrespective of whether a couple has a child or many children, they can still experience difficulty in getting pregnant.
Myth 7 :Your health does not impact your fertility
YES, IT DOES! This is the biggest myth. Fertility and reproductive health of both men and women are majorly dependant on their overall health. By living a healthy lifestyle that includes eating a balanced diet, exercising every day, and taking a minimum of 8 hours of sleep, a couple can improve their chances of pregnancy by multi-fold.
Myth 8 : If a man can ejaculate, he does not have a fertility issue
HE CAN STILL HAVE AN ISSUE! Most people wrongly assume that if a man has a healthy erectile function and normal ejaculation, he does not have any fertility issues. It is a common myth to relate a man’s fertility to his sexual performance.
Male infertility, however, refers to issues with the shape, size, motility, and count of the sperms in his ejaculate. By just having a look at the semen sample, it can not be determined if the male has healthy sperms or not. Proper semen analysis along with other medical examinations is required to confirm male fertility.
Myth 9 :You need not worry about your age, there is always IVF
YOU MUST WORRY! Some people delay their family planning in high hopes of pregnancy from IVF treatment. They assume that IVF can overcome age-related infertility and will help them experience parenthood whenever they are ready for it. This is not the case.
Similar to the case of natural pregnancy, the chances of success with IVF also decline with a couple’s age. Women can opt for IVF cycle with donor eggs/sperms, in case of infertility due to advanced age but even that cannot be considered as a guarantee for pregnancy or childbirth. Most importantly, IVF is and MUST BE offered only after ensuring that the couple are for enough to raise a child. For example, is woman develops diabetes and is not under control, IVF is not offered until diabetes is under control and couple are also informed of the consequences of diabetes on pregnant and foetus.
Myth 10 : All couples have the same fertility journey
ABSOLUTELY NOT! No two couples ever have the same journey to pregnancy and parenthood. As each couple has a unique set of fertility issues, varied factors such as age, lifestyle, medical history, number and quality is eggs and sperm, apart from the other factors, they have different types of difficulties in getting pregnant. Also, each couple has their personal preferences when it comes to choosing the sequence and course of various fertility treatments.
It is thus, wise to not be influenced by someone else’s journey, but instead, focus on an accurate diagnosis of your fertility disorders so as to get them treated in due course of time.
We hope we have cleared most of your doubts and queries related to infertility. The inability of a couple to conceive naturally must not become a source of stress or anxiety as that will not only worsen the situation but also create numerous other medical complications. Always ask for help from a fertility expert.
If you have been trying to conceive a baby for more than a year and need medical assistance, get in touch with the experienced fertility specialists at Genesis Fertility and Laparoscopy Centre. We have advanced in-house medical equipment and vast expertise in offering a large variety of fertility treatments such as IUI – Intra-Uterine Insemination, IVF – In-Vitro Fertilization, ICSI – Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, donor egg and sperm treatments, egg freezing, Pre-implantation genetic treatments, frozen embryo transfer, surrogacy, etc.
Schedule your appointment with the distinguished fertility experts at Genesis Fertility and Laparoscopy Centre for a thorough medical check-up, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment of all leading infertility disorders. We promise a comfortable medical experience for you all!
