Fertility Facts
Dr Beth Taylor describes the 10 most common Fertility Misconceptions
Dr. Taylor is a reproductive endocrinologist and medical co-director at Genesis Fertility Centre.
If you are trying to conceive you want to make sure you have the fertility facts. Here are some common misconceptions that might prevent you from getting pregnant.
1. Misconception Infertility is a
female problem
Fact 40 percent of the time it’s due to the male factor 40% is due to female and 20% is due to both.
2. Misconception I can wait until I’m
40 to conceive. Look at all the movie stars getting pregnant at 40.
Fact Despite all the stories you’ve heard in the media, fertility declines at a much earlier age than you might think. If you’re a healthy woman, fertility peaks in your mid-twenties and starts to decline at about age 27. A healthy woman at age 30 has about a 20% chance per month of conceiving. By the time she reaches 40, her chances drop to about 5% per month.
3. Misconception We’ve already had one child, so conceiving again will be easy.
Fact Many couples have trouble getting pregnant with a second or subsequent child.
4. Misconception Healthy living equals fertility.
Fact One in six healthy couples of reproductive age will experience fertility problems. Fertility problems can be the result of a variety of issues; the biggest factor that impacts fertility is age.
5. Misconception Weight doesn’t
impact my fertility.
Fact Being too thin or over exercising can stop ovulation. On the other hand, being overweight can disrupt your hormones and help prevent conception. Doctors consider a body mass index (BMI) between 19 and 25 ideal.
6. Misconception Having sex every day will increase my chances of
conceiving.
Fact Timing sex during most fertile time days of your monthly cycle will increase your chances - not how many times you have sex.
7. Misconception Only a woman’s biological clock is ticking.
Fact Recent studies indicate that men may start losing their fertility as early as 35. Over 45, a man may
experience a decline in sperm quality.
8. Misconception The day I ovulate
is the best day to get pregnant.
Fact The best time to have intercourse is just before you ovulate. There’s a slender 12 to 24 hour monthly window when an egg can be fertilized, usually around the middle of your menstrual cycle. So if you are charting your basal body tem¬perature and are waiting for your tem¬perature to go up to have intercourse – it’s too late!
9. Misconception Sexual positions can affect chances of conception.
Fact No study has confirmed that one position is more effective than any other in achieving pregnancy.
10. Misconception Infertility means we will never have a child.
Fact Infertility does not mean sterility. With increasingly refined medical treat¬ments up to 90% of infertile couples eventually become pregnant.
Genesis Fertility Centre | BC’s largest IVF centre
Dr. Jason Hitkari | Dr. Beth Taylor | Dr. Al Yuzpe | Dr. Sonya Kashyap | Dr. Gary Nakhuda | Dr. Margo Fluker
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