5 Common Fertility Myths

There are many “myths” surrounding the topic of fertility. This blog by IVI, the world’s largest fertility group, discusses 5 common misconceptions.

1. Infertility is a only woman’s issue

Infertility affects both men and women equally with around 30% of infertility cases being due to male factor infertility, 30% due to female factor infertility and the other 40% of cases being combined or unexplained factors. Men matter too.

2. Male Fertility isn’t affected by age

Male sperm quality and sperm count does decrease with age, especially after a man is 40 years old. When sperm quality and sperm count decreases, it is less likely that an egg will be fertilised or that an embryo will develop successfully. However, IVF with ICSI can help to overcome this issue by selecting a single healthy-looking sperm cell to be injected directly into an egg cell to increase the chance of successful fertilisation.

3. Just relax!

Being told to “just relax” can be extremely upsetting and irritating when you are trying to get pregnant. Whilst trying to relax can help psychologically and is an important part of your fertility treatment, infertility is most often a physical condition that needs medical attention. Infertility is a medical condition of the reproductive system where medical treatments and techniques can now commonly diagnose and treat infertility issues.

4. Infertility is rare

Infertility is common, impacting approximately 1 in 6 couples in the UK. It is important to know that you are not alone. There are many people who can support you if you have are experiencing fertility issues and are going through fertility treatment. It is strongly recommended to keep a good line of communication regarding your fertility issues with friends and family and most importantly your partner. You never know, your friends and family may also have either past of present experience with fertility issues and treatment. IVI UK offers independent specialist fertility counselling to all of our patients, and to people considering treatment with us, where you can receive impartial and expert advice from a Specialist Fertility Counsellor. The Fertility Network UK is the UK’s leading Fertility Charity which is here to support anyone who has ever experienced any fertility issues. The Fertility Network UK has a free fertility online community forum for 24/7 peer support.

5. If you conceived your first baby easily, getting pregnant again will be easy

Many people suffer from secondary infertility, where they have previously been pregnant but are having difficulty conceiving the second time around. This is relatively common and can be due to a number of reasons including an increase in your age and a decline in your natural fertility, or potentially because of previous pregnancy complications.

For more information on our fertility consultations and treatments, please feel free to contact our Patient Support Services via our contact form or by phoning us on 0800 52 00 161.