9th Apr 2024
When you’re trying to conceive, it can be challenging to differentiate between myths and facts about fertility. There’s so much information about getting pregnant, especially online, but it’s not always obvious what’s true and what isn’t. Let’s dive into some of the most common myths about fertility to determine whether they’re backed by scientific research or not.
7 Common Fertility Myths, Debunked
We’ve rounded up seven common myths about getting pregnant to explain. Many of these are derived from old superstitions or individual experiences but aren’t backed by scientific evidence.
Of course, always be sure to check with your doctors if you have any questions while trying to conceive. They can provide more personalized guidance based on your specific medical situation.
1. The Pill Can Harm Fertility
One of the most common infertility myths is that taking the birth control pill can negatively affect your fertility. This fertility myth likely started due to a lack of public education about birth control in its early days on the market. When it first became accessible in the United States, pharmaceutical companies weren’t completely transparent about side effects.
That led to a lack of public trust in birth control that continues to this day but is not necessarily based on fact. Don’t let these myths stop you from taking birth control when you need it.
Research has confirmed that taking birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives won’t affect your ability to conceive later on. One study found that 83.1% of women1 who stopped taking birth control became pregnant within 12 months. If you’re unable to get pregnant after taking birth control, it’s likely an indication of an underlying fertility issue, not an issue with the birth control itself.
2. You Should Lie Flat When Trying To Conceive
Another common misconception is that you should lie flat on your back during and after sex while trying to get pregnant. However, there isn’t any scientific evidence to back this up. It takes just a few minutes for sperm to reach the fallopian tubes, regardless of which position you use or what you do afterward. Go ahead and use whichever position is most comfortable and enjoyable for you and your partner, and don’t worry about these conception myths.
3. It’s Easy For Most Women To Get Pregnant
When you look at social media, it might seem easy for everyone to get pregnant. However, it’s important to remember that just because it seems easy for other people to get pregnant doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the case. Unfortunately, talking about infertility is often seen as taboo, which has led to the myth that it’s easy to get pregnant.
Infertility is more common than you might think. According to the CDC, 19% of women2 are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. That’s nearly one in five women! If you’ve struggled with infertility, you’re not alone.
4. Stress Causes Infertility
That is one of the few popular myths on how to get pregnant that does have some science behind it. Studies have found that there are some links between high stress levels and infertility.
For example, one study used salivary alpha-amylase to measure women’s stress levels as they tried to conceive. Salivary alpha-amylase is an enzyme that is indicative of stress. The study found that higher stress levels were associated with a longer time to conceive3.
However, this could be a chicken-or-egg scenario. Were these women struggling to get pregnant because they were stressed, or were they stressed due to the possibility of infertility? Right now, there’s not enough evidence to determine that stress causes infertility. The process of trying to start a family can be stressful, and while it’s essential to take care of yourself, an average amount of stress is unlikely to interfere with your ability to get pregnant.
5. Women Can’t Get Pregnant After 35
This myth is one of the most common ones you’ll hear about pregnancy, and it’s easy to see where it originated. Pregnancies for women older than 35 are often labeled “geriatric pregnancies,” and these pregnancies do come with some additional risk4.
However, this doesn’t mean women can’t get pregnant after age 35. As of 2016, 22.3% of births occurred in women over the age of 355 — a considerable increase from 6.2% in 1980. That’s a huge number of healthy births each year! Everyone’s journey is different, so don’t get discouraged if you’re over 35.
6. Age Doesn’t Impact Male Fertility
When discussing fertility, many people focus on women. However, men can also struggle with infertility. If you’re struggling to get pregnant, it’s crucial to assess the health of both partners to find the right solution.
When considering getting pregnant myths, you might hear that male fertility doesn’t decline over time, but this isn’t true. While men can reproduce at any age, sperm quality starts to wane over time. Studies indicate that fertility for men tends to decline around age 40, with conception 30% less likely for men over 406 than for men under 30.
7. It’s Easy to Get Pregnant the Second Time
Finally, one of the most common myths to get pregnant is that it’s easier to conceive after having a child. While this is true for some women, it’s not true for everyone. Fertility levels can change over time. Secondary infertility affects approximately 11% of couples7, so if you’re struggling to conceive a second time, you’re not alone. Luckily, secondary infertility has a higher pregnancy rate8 than primary infertility, so there’s a good chance that you and your doctor can find a solution.
Boost Your Fertility with FertilitySmart
While these fertility myths may be common, this doesn’t mean that they are true. Rather than paying attention to myths, work with your doctor to stay healthy on your fertility journey. Try the FertilitySmart Conceive collection to find trusted male fertility supplements and fertility supplements for women supporting reproductive health and healthy conception as you grow your family.
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Citations:
1 Girum, Tadele, and Abebaw Wasie. “Return of Fertility after Discontinuation of Contraception: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, vol. 3, no. 1, 23 July 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-018-0064-y.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Infertility.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019, www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm.
3 Lynch, C.D., et al. “Preconception Stress Increases the Risk of Infertility: Results from a Couple-Based Prospective Cohort Study—the LIFE Study.” Human Reproduction, vol. 29, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 1067–1075, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deu032.
4 “New Study Examines Pros, Cons of Advanced Maternal Age.” Arnold School of Public Health, sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/public_health/about/news/2023/nsf_grant_mann.php.
5 Heazell, Alexander E.P., et al. “Pregnancy Outcome in Mothers over the Age of 35.” Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 30, no. 6, Dec. 2018, pp. 337–343, https://doi.org/10.1097/gco.0000000000000494.
6 Ford, W.C.L. “Increasing Paternal Age Is Associated with Delayed Conception in a Large Population of Fertile Couples: Evidence for Declining Fecundity in Older Men.” Human Reproduction, vol. 15, no. 8, 1 Aug. 2000, pp. 1703–1708, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/15.8.1703. Accessed 19 Apr. 2020.
7 Katib, Atif Abdulhamid, et al. “Secondary Infertility and the Aging Male, Overview.” Central European Journal of Urology, vol. 67, no. 2, 2014, https://doi.org/10.5173/ceju.2014.02.art13.
8 Collins, John J, et al. The Better Prognosis in Secondary Infertility Is Associated with a Higher Proportion of Ovulation Disorders. Vol. 45, no. 5, 1 May 1986, pp. 611–616, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)49330-1. Accessed 18 July 2023.