10 Myths About Infertility
Between 11 and 15% of Canadian couples suffer from infertility. This is defined as an inability to conceive a child despite having unprotected and regular sexual intercourse for at least one year.
The Procrea Fertility team has listed the ten most widespread myths about infertility. It was important to debunk them and lift the veil on these preconceived ideas, based on scientific evidence, to help you see things more clearly and thus break the taboos.
1. The woman is the main responsible for infertility in a couple
Although historically women have long been considered infertile when they were unable to get pregnant. We now know that they are the cause of infertility in a couple only 35% of the time. Also, 35% of infertility is attributed to men, 20% of cases are attributed to both partners and 10% of cases remain unknown, according to the Tri-City Medical Center in California. No reason to overwhelm women, then.
2. Fertility treatments and clinics are unnatural
This reasoning is as wrong as saying that a sick person should not be offered proper treatment because their immune system should be able to defend itself. Instead, fertility clinics assess whether or not there are obstacles or problems that they would be able to solve in order to let nature do its job.
3. Raising your legs after intercourse is beneficial for fertilization
While it may seem like a good idea to hold your legs up for 20 minutes after sex, it doesn't actually increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant. Since each ejaculation contains millions of sperm, the potential loss of a few thousand sperm has a negligible effect on the chances of an egg being fertilized. In fact, a study conducted in the Netherlands suggests that women may be more likely to get pregnant if they get up and walk around after sex.
4. No orgasm, no child
The reason this statement is false is the simple fact that the only way to conceive is through the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. This can happen regardless of whether a woman has an orgasm or not – they are two completely independent processes.
5. If you reduce your stress level, you will get pregnant
Everyone knows a woman who was supposedly too stressed to get pregnant and then managed to get pregnant after completely giving up on the idea. This is one of the most common myths about infertility. It is actually a form of self-blame that women put up with when they fail to get pregnant in situations that represent a high level of stress.
Infertility can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, but there is little evidence to suggest otherwise. If there are no physiological disorders to report, women can conceive even under extremely stressful conditions (war, trauma, etc.).
6. Sperm count cannot change
Smoking, being overweight, hot tubbing, and drinking alcohol are all linked to lower sperm counts. Therefore, quitting some of these habits can not only benefit your overall health, but can also promote sperm production and therefore increase sperm counts. Interestingly, one study showed that there is a correlation between men who cycle for more than five hours per week and having lower sperm counts. It may be necessary to put intensive cycling on hold for a while if you are trying to improve your sperm quality.
7. Birth control pills cause infertility
This misconception is deeply rooted in the collective unconscious. However, there is no proven evidence that the contraceptive pill has an effect on a woman's fertility once she stops taking it. Many studies have examined the possible effects of oral contraceptives on fertility. One in particular, which studied more than 60 women in South Africa, concluded that they had no positive or negative impact on fertility.
8. Age does not affect male fertility
To say that men's fertility remains stable throughout their lives, despite their age, unlike women, is unfounded. While women have to deal with menopause, men see the "quality" of their sperm weaken with age. This phenomenon is accompanied by an increasing number of spermatozoa containing fragmented DNA, which can be the cause of certain congenital diseases in the future child.
9. If you have already had children, you no longer have to worry about infertility.
This is called "secondary infertility," which means the inability to conceive again easily after the couple has already had a child. Many factors can cause secondary infertility, such as impaired sperm production, endometriosis, or complications associated with a previous pregnancy.
10. Women over 35 are unlikely to get pregnant.
According to a study conducted at the University of North Carolina, about 80% of women between the ages of 35 and 39 will become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive. To increase overall fertility, Health Canada recommends that women maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, plan sex around their cycles, and avoid alcohol and tobacco. So if you're 35 or older and having trouble getting pregnant, talk to a doctor, as there may be other underlying issues that can be addressed.
It is not uncommon to hear scandalous statements about infertility, however, we advise you not to believe 100% everything you read online. If your fears or concerns are too great and you express the need to talk to a fertility specialist, our teams are available to listen to you at all times. At Procrea Fertilité, we offer a variety of treatments adapted to each individual as well as support to deal with infertility. Do not hesitate to contact one of our clinics in Quebec or Ontario.
