5 Fertility Myths Debunked

When it comes to fertility, there’s a lot of information out there — and not all of it is accurate. Misconceptions about fertility can lead to confusion and unnecessary stress, and some old wives' tales can do more harm than good.

If you’re struggling to conceive, our team of expert providers at Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates encourages you to visit us in Marietta, Georgia. We offer tests to pinpoint the source of your infertility and recommend the right fertility treatments.

In the meantime, read on as our team debunks the top five fertility myths.

Myth #1: Most people get pregnant their first time trying

Fact: Each month, you have only about a 15%-25% chance of conceiving, although it can take up to one full year of trying to conceive before you get pregnant. This is normal — even if you time intercourse around your ovulation. 

However, your fertility changes as you age. 

While many people believe age doesn’t matter much, fertility naturally declines over time. Women experience a decrease in fertility in their 30s, with a more noticeable decline in their late 30s and 40s.

It’s not just an issue for women either! Men also see a gradual decrease in fertility with age, though not as significant as women. 

Understanding how age affects fertility helps you make better decisions about family planning. Keeping in mind natural fertility dips, if you’re over 35 and haven’t conceived within six months (instead of 12), reach out to us. 

Myth #2: You can only get pregnant on day 14 of your cycle 

Fact: While day 14 of your cycle is a common ovulation day, you may ovulate earlier or later than that.

Although conceiving is less likely during your period, it’s not impossible. For example, ovulation could happen soon after your period ends if you ovulate early. Because sperm can live in your body for up to five days, it’s possible to get pregnant if you had intercourse during your period.

It’s possible to conceive during perimenopause. Ovulation can be a bit more unpredictable during perimenopause and cause longer periods, so it’s harder to time intercourse appropriately if you’re trying to grow your family. Regardless, it’s still possible.

So when is the best time? To increase your chances of conceiving, you should have intercourse in the days leading up to ovulation. Your egg lives about 24 hours after ovulation, so timing is important. You can use fertility apps or even ovulation strips to help time intercourse just right.

Myth #3: Infertility affects more women than men

Fact: Both men and women can experience infertility. In fact, around one-third of fertility issues are attributed to men, one-third to women, and the remaining cases involve both partners or are unexplained. 

Male fertility issues often go unaddressed, so a comprehensive approach to fertility should involve both you and your partner.

Myth #4: You can get pregnant easily if you’re healthy

Fact: While a healthy lifestyle — including maintaining a healthy weight and eating nutrient-dense food — supports your fertility, it’s not guaranteed. Factors like age, genetic conditions, hormone levels, and even environmental exposures can impact fertility regardless of your physical health.

Regarding environmental exposures, consider removing endocrine-disrupting chemicals from your home. This includes phthalates, often found in plastic food containers or wrappers. You can reduce exposure to this endocrine disruptor by not microwaving your food in plastic.

Myth #5: Stress doesn’t really affect your ability to conceive

Fact: While stress alone isn’t typically a direct cause of infertility, chronic stress can impact hormones that affect ovulation (for you) or sperm production (for your partner). 

High-stress levels can affect your fertility in other ways too. They can disrupt menstrual cycles and squash your libido, which can make it harder to time intercourse properly.

Bonus myth: pineapple and yams can boost your fertility

Fact: Both pineapple and yams are rich in fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A, and they should be included in a healthy diet. 

However, they aren't a cure-all for fertility. For example, if you have a fibroid that is blocking your fallopian tube (and making conception near impossible), no amount of pineapple will address that fibroid. 

The good part here is that surgery could help by removing the fibroid. 

Get help with infertility

If you’re concerned about fertility issues, give us a call. Our team takes a holistic approach and works to pinpoint the source of fertility issues whether that’s ovulation issues, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalances, or male infertility issues such as low sperm count.

Depending on the root cause of your infertility, our team may recommend:

• Medications to stimulate ovulation
• Minimally invasive surgery to address fibroids 
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• In vitro fertilization (IVF)

You can also request a fertility consultation via our online booking system.