There must be hundreds of things a couple will hear about conceiving, including advice on what to do and what to avoid when trying to get pregnant.
So, how does one differentiate fact from fiction? We take the guesswork out of top eight myths surrounding the topic of fertility.
Myth 1
A physically healthy couple is unlikely to suffer infertility problems
Fact: Being unhealthy is indeed a risk factor for infertility, but unfortunately, it is not necessarily the same case the other way around. An individual may look and feel as healthy as can be but that is in no way an indicator of their fertility. Men and women may have fertility issues with no outward indicators. So the best way to be sure is to consult your doctor for advice.
Myth 2
I have been trying to get pregnant for three months and have failed. Something MUST be wrong
Fact: There might have been reasons for your elders, teachers and sex-educator to have wanted you to believe that you’d get pregnant with a drop of the pants! So, after three months of actually trying to no avail, you would think something is wrong. The fact is, a couple isn’t considered infertile unless they have been trying for a year and still are unable to conceive, hence there is a lot of time to keep trying without worrying. Eighty per cent of healthy couples will succeed in getting pregnant by this time.
Myth 3
If I had sex often enough, there’s no way I won’t get pregnant.
Fact: You can, by all means, have all the sex you want as long as you remember to have it especially during a few crucial days of the month, namely the days which you are ovulating. Or else, you could have sex for 26 out of 30 days and still miss ovulation. The key here, when it comes to conceiving, is timing and not repetitiveness.
Myth 4
Infertility is not a common problem.
Fact: It is more common than you imagine! It is a painful issue and most couple opt to suffer in silence rather than bring it out in the open. One study in the Arizona Centre of Fertility Studies showed that one out of every six couples have problems trying to conceive.
Myth 5
As long as I’m still under 35, I’m still fertile!
Fact: It is true that as long as you are below 35 and healthy, you are considered to be most fertile because a woman’s fertility decreases once she hits 35. Keep in mind though that with each year that passes without pregnancy, the risk of infertility increases. That’s just the way the body works and not something one can control.
Myth 6
If I have unprotected sex 14 days after my period, I will surely get pregnant.
Fact: Probably one of the biggest misconceptions of conceiving because very few women have perfect and consistent 28-day cycles, hence unless you do, you are not necessarily most fertile on day 14.
Myth 7
My partner and I don’t have to do anything different or special sexually to conceive.
Fact: While you don’t have to go and change the basics of sex, there are some things that you can refrain from if you are trying to conceive, such as oral sex and the use of lubricants. Both lubricant and saliva are capable of killing sperm.
Myth 8
I have never been on hormonal birth control in my life, so I should conceive easily.
Fact: Unfortunately, there is no advantage there. Not having been under the influence of contraceptives does not put you in the advantage of conceiving without problems. Your body might be fully capable of regulating by itself, which is a good thing, yet there may be other factors that could come in the way of you trying to get pregnant. Remember too, that there is also the issue of unexplained infertility.
