Top 20 Infertility Myths & Facts

Male infertility factors include:

        -  Azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced). 

         - Malformed sperm cells

        - A  genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal abnormality.

 Female infertility factors include ;

        -  Ovulation disorders

        -  Blocked fallopian tubes, which can occur when a woman has had pelvic inflammatory

           disease or endometriosis  

       -  Congenital anomalies involving the structure of the uterus and uterine fibroids

2. MYTH: Most people get pregnant very easily

FACT: Infertility affects 7.3 million people of childbearing age in the United States -- about 10-15 percent of the reproductive-age population, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

3. MYTH: It's all psychological; People just need to relax and they'll get pregnant.

FACT: Infertility is a medical condition of the reproductive system. Stress can result from struggles with infertility, not cause it.

4. MYTH: After people adopt a baby they usually get pregnant

FACT: Studies reveal that the rate for achieving pregnancy after adopting is the same as for those who do not adopt.

5. MYTH: Adoption is the only ethical solution to infertility: it’s a lot cheaper and easier than medical treatment, and there are so many babies who need homes.

FACT: “The biological urge to have children is quite strong,” says Dr. Samuel Pang, Medical Director at the Reproductive Science Center  (RSC) of New England, “The truth is that most patients we treat for infertility exhaust their options for medical treatment prior to considering adoption.” Contemporary adoption options have changed, and adoption can be more costly and time-consuming than expected. It is, however, still possible to adopt a healthy baby.

6. MYTH: Marriages rarely survive infertility struggles

FACT: The majority of couples manage infertility challenges effectively. In the process, they can learn new ways of relating to each other, improve their understanding of different coping styles, and deepen their communication, which actually serves to improve their relationship.

7. MYTH:  Infertility is not problematic for people until they hit their late 30's

FACT: For women:

        - 7% of married women are infertile by age 30

        - 11% by age 35

        - 33% by age 40

        - 87% at age 45

 In addition, recent research indicates that men, too, may experience a decline in fertility with age.

“The drop in natural pregnancy rates is directly correlated to the effects of normal ovarian aging - as women age, their eggs become less fertile and chromosomal abnormalities may begin to appear,” says Dr. Isaac Glatstein, Associate Medical Director at the Reproductive Science Center (RSC) of New England. “But the good news is that with the appropriate treatment, up to 80 percent of our patients will conceive.”

8. MYTH: People who have successfully conceived before shouldn’t have trouble with fertility later in life

FACT: According to the National Survey of Family Growth, more than one million couples experience “secondary infertility.” A previously fertile partner may be trying to have a child with a new spouse, or one or both partners in an existing relationship may have developed fertility problems since their last child was conceived, (e.g., endometriosis – one of the most frequent causes of secondary infertility in women), irregular ovulation, or fallopian tube disease. Or, a man might have had a decline in the concentration or motility of his sperm. Other factors can involve age (even one or two years can make a big difference in a woman's fertility cycle and a man's sperm count), scarring after childbirth, or hormonal changes, which can affect ovulation and sperm production.

9. MYTH: Infertility treatment has gotten way too high-tech

FACT:  85 to 90 percent  of infertility conditions are treated with conventional therapies, such as drug treatment or surgical repair of reproductive organs. For infertile couples where women have blocked or absent fallopian tubes, or where men have low sperm counts, in vitro fertilization (IVF) offers a chance at parenthood to couples who until recently would have had no hope of having a "biologically related" child.

IVF accounts for less than 5 percent of all infertility treatment in the United States. Since IVF was introduced in the United States, in 1981 through the end of 2002, almost 300,000 babies have been born as a result of reported Assisted Reproductive Technology procedures (ART). IVF currently accounts for about 99 percent of ART procedures. In 2002, approximately one in every hundred babies born in the United States was conceived using ART.

10. MYTH: The chance of having a baby through IVF is risky

FACT:  According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the average live delivery rate for IVF in 2007 was 39.9 percent per retrieval. At RSC, the live birth rate from IVF was 40&. 

11. MYTH: Using IVF means multiple births (twins, triplets)

FACT:  New advances in reproductive medicine, such as ultrasound-guided embryo transfer, allow physicians to transfer the smallest number of embryos possible resulting in a lower risk of multiple births. RSC has one of the highest percentages of single embryo transfers in New England - 11%

Multiple embryo transfers not only increases the chance of becoming pregant with more than one baby, it also,  dramatically increases the odds of prematurity, low birth weight, disability, and death for the infants, and risks of preeclampsia, diabetes, placental problems, caesarean section and other delivery complications for the mother.

“We are aggressive in informing patients about all the things that can go wrong with multiple pregnancies,” says RSC's Dr. Isaac Glatstein. “We’re not comfortable being part of unnecessary risk, and we are letting our patients know that in as plain a language as possible.”

12. MYTH: The “hips up theory” is the best position for conception

FACT: Position makes no difference Sperm have to reach cervical mucus within five minutes, or they are inactivated by the active PH of the vagina. Hips resting on a pillow or staying in the position at the time of ejaculation will not enhance fertility.

13. MYTH: Egg freezing is only useful for women with medical conditions like cancer

FACT: Egg freezing is an evolving option for single women under 37 years of age who are concerned about their fertility options. Egg freezing is currently still considered experimental, and should only be done as part of a research protocol, but cryopreservation technology is improving as techniques are shared and enhanced.

14. MYTH: Taking two double-strength aspirin a day can help fertility

FACT: There's no data to indicate taking two double-strength aspirin a day or any aspirin whatsoever can help fertility. In fact, some studies suggest that it can adversely affect ovulation and the release of the egg. Also, women who have problems with miscarriage or have a tendency toward easy blood clotting, one baby aspirin a day can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful pregnancy.

15. MYTH: Robitussin cough medicine can help with conception

FACT: For a long time Robitussin was used by physicians and women alike to improve cervical mucus. In a randomized placebo controlled study, there was no difference in either cervical mucus quality or pregnancy rate with the use of Robitussin.

16. MYTH: Methods like acupuncture don’t help with infertility

FACT: Studies comparing women who have acupuncture and women who don't, indicate it may enhance fertility. Many acupuncturists now specialize in fertility, and “our patients who have utilized acupuncture and other complementary methods may have benefited,” says Dr. Pang of RSC.

17. MYTH: Diet is important for pregnancy, not conception

FACT: Removing sugars from the diet, (e.g., caffeine, white flour, white sugar, white corn, white rice, etc.), may improve ovulation and regularity. Foods that are broken down quickly raise insulin levels too quickly and disrupt delicate hormonal values in the ovaries causing more testosterone to be produced, impairing egg quality and thus possibly lowering the chance of conception. In some women, high insulin levels may cause irregular ovulation, irregular periods, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

18. MYTH: Women with less body fat get pregnant more easily

FACT: For women, body fat within normal range, 20 and 24 percent of body weight, is very important in making sure that the reproductive system functions normally. If the body mass  index or BMI, which is a measure of body fat, is too low or too high, it can adversely affect the ability to conceive. According to RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association, body fat levels 10 percent to 15 percent below normal can completely shut down the reproductive process. Women at risk include those with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, and women on a very low-calorie or restrictive diet. Strict vegetarians also may experience infertility problems due to a lack of important nutrients such as vitamin B-12, zinc, iron and folic acid.

19. MYTH: Sugar substitutes interfere with conception less than natural sugar

FACT: No data exists that has shown that overall usage of sugar substitutes is better than the possible negative effects of sugar. Natural sweeteners like fructose and stevia, Maltall and zyletol may be used in moderate amounts.

20. MYTH: Cannabis (marijuana) has no impact on conception or healthy embryo development

FACT: Smoking cannabis may lead to miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies, according to University of Nashville research just published in the July Journal of Clinical Investigation. Vanderbilt University researchers in Nashville, Tennessee, have also found that cannabis can trigger inadequate chemical levels that prevent normal embryo development, transport into the uterus and implantation. “Unquestionably, marijuana use in both men and women should be eliminated if they desire to conceive,” says Dr. Isaac Glatstein of Reproductive Science Center of New England.

This information is provided for general education purposes and is not intended to take the place of a discussion with your physician. If you have questions about any aspect of your health, you are advised to speak with your physician.