Am I Hindering My Fertility? A Look at Some Popular Fertility Myths

For those who have been trying to conceive and are beginning to question their fertility there are many different myths out there about things or conditions that hinder fertility. While some of these myths may be partially true, doctors and researchers have gone on to prove they are, in fact, just myths. Here is a look at some of the more popular myths.

Stress hinders fertility. For many years it was said that stress or worrying over trying to conceive was the actual cause for infertility but doctors have gone on to prove this myth wrong. Doctors agree that extreme stress may be responsible for preventing a woman to ovulate or even damaging a man's sperm however it is not a key reason for infertility.

Fertility is reduced because of birth control pill usage. This rumor has not only been proven false but many doctors claim that using birth control pills may in fact help fertility. Birth control pills do not have any lasting effects on the body or ones' fertility. They have long been considered one of the safer methods of birth control for the majority of women who plan to try to conceive again or those who are not ready for more permanent methods of birth control.

Different types of underwear will affect a man's sperm count. Some couples have come to believe that if the male wears boxers he will have a better sperm count however doctors have found no real truth behind this commonly known myth. Instead, doctors encourage men to wear whatever type of underwear are more comfortable to them.

Infertility is more common in women. Another myth that has had women who are trying to conceive worrying even more is that infertility occurs more often with women. However, researchers have found that fertility problems actually happen equally with both women and with men. There are also cases where both the male and the female have fertility issues.

Couples should only try to conceive on the 14th day of a woman's cycle to get pregnant. It is true that women are supposed to be more fertile when they ovulate it does not necessarily mean that all women are going to ovulate on day 14 of their cycles. Just as every person is different so are women's cycles. To find out when a woman ovulates there are special ovulation kits that help a woman determine when ovulation occurs to help aid in conception.

Sources Cited: http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/preparing-for-pregnancy/10-myths-about-conceiving-1434/