Common fertility myths: explained

As soon as you begin to research fertility online, you will find lots of information and some of it can be confusing. Our teams at Care are experts in fertility science and we can debunk some common fertility myths to help make things easier to understand.

Taking long-term contraception can make you infertile

It is unlikely that contraception can affect your fertility. Some conceive immediately after they stop using contraception, and others may experience a temporary disruption to their menstrual cycle.

Contraception is unlikely to affect your fertility, but it can hide a potential underlying problem, such as irregular periods.

Most people conceive quickly

Everybody has individual circumstances that can affect how long conception may take, so it would be wrong to say that most people conceive quickly.

Approximately 1 in 6 may have difficulty conceiving; infertility is usually only diagnosed if you haven’t a year of trying. If you are concerned, we recommend that you speak to your doctor or book a consultation.

Age only affects female fertility

We are often made aware that egg quality naturally starts to decline when people are in their early 30s. A third of all eggs have chromosomal abnormalities by the time a person turns 40, making the eggs unable to form a viable pregnancy.

Male fertility starts to decline from around 40 to 45 years of age; as testicular function and sperm parameters deteriorate. 

The only solution when struggling to conceive is IVF

IVF is not the only solution when experiencing infertility. Although

IVF may be the right option for you, there is a vast range of treatments available. At Care Fertility, your treatment plan is bespoke and individualised to ensure your personal needs are met, these include:

• Diagnostic tests: we would recommend this to achieve an accurate diagnosis before pursuing treatment
• Fertility drugs
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
  
  

Irregular periods signify infertility

Irregular periods don’t always indicate a problem; factors such as weight loss or weight gain, stress or hormones can affect your menstrual cycle.

The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, although it can be longer or shorter. An irregular cycle can make it challenging to know when your fertile window is, and you may not ovulate regularly.

We recommend that you speak to someone if you have irregular periods, especially if your period lasts over 7 days or your periods have suddenly become irregular.

Good health means good fertility

You can be in good health and still struggle with conceiving; good health doesn’t guarantee ‘good fertility’. From ovulation disorders to blocked tubes, there are many factors that could contribute to infertility; we are here to help.

We recommend that when trying to conceive that you:

• Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid excessive alcohol, and reduce caffeine intake
• Avoid smoking
• Manage your stress levels