5 Common Myths About Infertility

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6% of women who are married and between the ages of 15 and 44 either can’t get pregnant after a year of trying, and are classified as infertile. In about 8% of cases of infertility, an identifiable male factor is the cause. 

If you’re trying to get pregnant and not getting the results you want, Dr. Parisa Pourzand may be able to help. Dr. Pourzand begins with a physical exam and discussion of your medical history, then offers infertility treatment options that are suitable for your specific situation. 

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of dealing with infertility is the misguided but well-intentioned advice from friends and family. This post describes five common infertility myths. 

1. Relax! It’ll happen

 “Stop tracking everything! Buy a bottle of wine, relax, and have fun! You’ll be pregnant in no time.” 

This is perhaps the most pervasive myth about infertility. While it is true that chronic stress can result in a lowered desire to have sex, and it may delay ovulation, it doesn’t cause infertility in men or women.

There are plenty of health reasons to lower your stress levels, but improving fertility isn’t one of them. Infertility is a medical issue, and one there are often effective treatments to address. 

2. Most of the time, infertility is a woman’s problem

Back in the middle ages, and even in much more recent history, failure to get pregnant was seen as solely a woman’s problem. However, thanks to the advancement of medical science, we now know that infertility affects men and women almost equally. 

If Dr. Pourzand doesn’t find any evidence of a condition that could be causing your infertility, she may suggest your partner visit a fertility specialist. Men often have specific symptoms related to infertility. 

A related piece of misinformation is that age only affects women’s fertility. In fact, as men age, semen decreases in both volume and motility. 

3. A higher libido means you’re less likely to experience infertility

Infertility is not related to your sex drive at all. Having sex more often won’t generally lead to a higher chance of getting pregnant.

A similar myth is that men who have a greater sex drive are more fertile, but that, also, isn’t true. Some men with a normal libido don’t have sperm at all, and others who may have a lower-than-average sex drive may be very fertile. There’s simply no correlation. 

4. You need to try different underpants

This bit of advice is more often directed at men than women, but that doesn’t make it any less wrong. Whether a man chooses to wear boxers, tighty whiteys, tight jeans, or loose shorts, it’s unlikely to affect his sperm count or contribute to his infertility.

Although looser clothing isn’t likely to improve a man’s fertility, it won’t hurt anything, either. 

There are other ways men can improve their sperm count. For example, healthy lifestyle elements, such as not smoking and eating a nutritious diet, may help. It may also be beneficial to avoid hot tubs and bicycling while trying to conceive. 

5. Infertility treatments don’t usually work

About half of couples who get infertility treatments go on to have successful pregnancies. In large part, the success of the treatment depends on the cause of your infertility. Sometimes, there’s a relatively easy solution, but sometimes there’s no effective treatment. 

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant and not encountering the success you expected, book an appointment with Dr. Pourzand. It’s much better to investigate what’s going on than to feel defeated. 

We have two convenient locations, and you can schedule an appointment at either one using our online booking tool. You’re welcome to call and schedule if that works better for you. We’re happy to help.