10 Myths About Getting Pregnant
Pregnancy is a very exciting time for women, but it can also become stressful when you hear different information from other mothers. Misinformation spreads like wildfire and it is important to know what is true and what isn’t.
Here are 10 myths about getting pregnant.
1. Ovulation is the same day every month
Having sex during ovulation will grant the highest probability that you will get pregnant because your hormones peak at this time so tracking it is important. Thinking that you will ovulate on the same day every month is one of the myths about getting pregnant. Ovulation is when the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian to prepare for fertilization from sperm. It does not occur on the same day each month. Around halfway between 2 consecutive menstruations is when ovulation really occurs, but it is not the same month to month. You can use different methods to track ovulation each month through methods including body temperature, cervical position, cervical fluid, and ovulation test strips.
Source: NIH
2. Sex on ovulation day guarantees pregnancy
Another one of the myths about getting pregnant is that having sex on the day of ovulation is the only way to guarantee a pregnancy. This is false because the sperm can survive in the uterus for up to 6 days. Due to this, if you had sex 6 days before ovulation, you can still get pregnant. The caveat here is when you have sex after ovulation, you will have a harder time getting pregnant because the sperm will die by the time your next ovulation occurs.
Source: 9288325
3. Period sex will never cause pregnancy
Having sex on your period can not cause pregnancy is another one of the myths about getting pregnant. Though the chance is usually smaller on average, it is still possible. Pregnancy is dependent on when you ovulate, and some women can ovulate as soon as the first week of their cycle to the last week of their cycle. You need to track your ovulation for a few months to get a gauge on if having sex during your period will lessen or strengthen the chances of pregnancy for you.
4. More sex equals more chance of pregnancy
Having sex more often does not ensure a higher chance of pregnancy, making this one of the myths about getting pregnant. Pregnancy can only occur if the sperm meets with the egg in the fallopian tube during ovulation, so having sex not during or close to ovulation will not cause pregnancy. Though pregnancy relies on timing, it is not everything. Other physiological markers play a role in pregnancy like stress, nutrient deficiencies, sleep, male fertility, and more.
Source: NIH
5. Fertility age isn’t real
Believing that the fertility age isn’t real is one of the myths about getting pregnant. Based on the evidence it is clear that fertility decreases as women age. This doesn’t mean that pregnancy is impossible as you get older, it just makes it more difficult. With age, egg count and quality decrease, and overall estrogen levels decline. These factors cause fertility to decrease with age. Overall, at age 35 fertility takes a steeper decline, and at age 40 fertility declines even more. Remember this does not make pregnancy impossible, it may just take more time and medical assistance.
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6. Longterm birth control use always diminishes fertility
Another one of the myths about getting pregnant is that long-term birth control use always diminishes fertility. The keyword here is always. While many women may have a harder time getting pregnant after using hormonal birth control for so long, it is not an end-all-be-all. When you take hormonal birth control, ovulation is impaired, resulting in protection from pregnancy. During this time, your birth control method will supply artificial hormones to the body to keep other regulatory processes running. When you stop taking the pill, your body has to relearn how to produce its own hormones again and how to produce the right amount of each hormone. This relearning process can take some time which can result in decreased fertility, but there are ways to better transition into a birth control-free life that won’t hinder fertility as much.
Source: 30062044
7. Nutrition plays a small role in pregnancy
Believing that nutrition plays a small role in pregnancy is another one of the myths about getting pregnant. This is false because food contains nutrients that benefit hormone production and regulation. Amino acids are building blocks for many hormones and neurotransmitters. Fiber increases gut health resulting in better hormone regulation because estrogen is passed through the gut. Many B vitamins are crucial for hormone production and regulating stress levels. Omega 3 fatty acids promote cervical fluidity to increase sperm penetration into the uterus. Eggs are high in choline which promotes the placenta and fetal brain growth. Shellfish contains zinc which increases egg quality and decreases preterm birth, placenta inflammation, and risk of miscarriage.
Source: 22254027, NIH, 31394787, 7386123, 17099205
8. Male fertility isn’t as important as women’s
Another one of the myths about getting pregnant is that the focus should solely be on the woman because male fertility does not matter as much. This is false because yes the woman contains the egg, but the sperm need to fertilize it for conception to occur. In this fashion, both male and female fertility is important. Though men release 100 million sperm per ejaculation on average, if these sperm are not high quality enough to reach and penetrate the egg, pregnancy can not occur. Men need to be nutrient sufficient, have healthy blood markers, and have low stress just as women do.
9. If you have PCOS you can’t get pregnant
Another one of the myths about getting pregnant is if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) you can’t get pregnant. Those with PCOS have usually higher androgen levels which decrease estrogen and progesterone, the hormones we need to be high for fertility. Additionally, some women with PCOS also have cysts on their ovaries which restricts ovulation from occurring. PCOS is not an end all be all that you will not get pregnant, but you may have a harder time. There are natural ways to improve hormone levels like diet and exercise, and in other cases, there are surgeries and medications you can take to improve fertility and conception.
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10. If you go months with failed pregnancy attempts something is wrong with you
Blaming yourself for failed pregnancy attempts is one of the myths about getting pregnant. Most couples do not get pregnant after the first, second, or third month of trying. More commonly after one year is the point where most couples become pregnant. If this doesn’t happen for you, it doesn’t mean you are automatically infertile. This just means you may need to dig deeper into some root causes of your lifestyle that need to be adjusted to improve fertility.
