Common Fertility Myths Busted-2

The Pill Reduces Fertility

No evidence shows that the consistent use of birth control pills affects future fertility. Because they remain in a woman's system for around 24 hours at a time, birth control pills never make much of an impact on the body's ability to reproduce. If anything, using the pill or one of its hormonal counterparts such as the patch or the ring can actually help fertility in some women. "Birth control pills have been used to treat and reduce symptoms of disorders such as endometriosis, which is a factor in infertility," says Dr. Brasner.

 

Stress Causes Infertility

While stress can delay ovulation by suppressing hormones, it holds no bearing over a couple's ability to procreate. The actual meeting of sperm and egg isn't affected by normal stress at all. Of course, if stress is affecting a couple's ability to have intercourse, then that's an entirely different story!

Likewise, a distinction must be made between everyday stress and severe stress, says Dr. Singh. If your stress affects the quality of your work or family life, it may also be affecting your fertility. Acupuncture and other therapies could be beneficial for the severely stressed who want to be pregnant," suggests Dr. Singh.

 

You Can't Get Pregnant during Your Period

Since ovulation time varies in women, it is possible to get pregnant during your period. Although unlikely, says Dr. Singh, some women ovulate as early as the seventh day or have an extended period of menstruation that lasts until ovulation. Likewise, since sperm can live in the cervical mucus for an average of two days, anything is possible.

Got all of that? Good! We hope fertility is no longer such a fog of conflicting data points to you. It can seem complex to understand what with monitoring your temperature, ovulation, and the like, but once you get past the falsehoods, you'll have a clearer view of the path to conception.

 

Conception Occurs Only during Intercourse

"It can take up to several days from the moment of intercourse for conception to occur," says Dr. Brasner. This is where birth control measures such as the rhythm method go awry. Since sperm can live in a woman's reproductive tract for days, a woman could have sex a few days before ovulation and still get pregnant. Oh, the mysteries of conception!

 

Conception Is Easy after Baby Number 1

While it is slightly more likely you will be able to conceive another child after having one, there are no guarantees. A first pregnancy can make the uterus unsuitable for conception, says Dr. Singh, or, "If you are close to the age of 40 … ovarian reserve may have become limited." Secondary infertility, that is, trouble conceiving a second or subsequent child, is a very common phenomenon. Each pregnancy is unique and equally a blessing.

 

Ovulation Occurs on Day 14

While the typical menstrual cycle is 28 days, not every woman is typical. In fact, many women have a cycle that lasts from 21 days up to as many as 35 days, says Dr. Singh. To calculate your day of ovulation, count backwards 14 days from the last day of your cycle. It very well could be day 14, or day 12, or day 20.

You can also try more sophisticated methods for predicting your patterns and days of ovulation. Try tracking your basal body temperature, watching for changes in your cervical fluid, or testing your saliva or urine for the presence of chemicals indicating ovulation is near.