If you’ve been trying to become pregnant for at least a year (six months in certain cases) without any success, or cannot carry pregnancy to full term, then there’s a strong chance that you could be struggling with fertility issues. With 10-15 percent of couples in the U.S. having trouble conceiving, it’s good to know that you’re not alone.
Unfortunately, because most of the population has never been personally affected by infertility, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding the topic. Here, we debunk five of the biggest misconceptions regarding infertility. Some of them may surprise you!
1. Infertility affects women only.
The truth: Most people think that infertility is only a woman’s problem since we’re the ones who actually have to carry the baby for nine months, but that’s where they’re wrong. According to the American Pregnancy Association, one third of fertility issues are related to men. Also, 90 percent of men infertility cases are due to low sperm counts.
2. It’s a psychological problem.
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The truth: Yes, stress certainly plays a role in infertility, but the truth of the matter is that infertility is a condition of the reproductive system. So, while there are many things you can do on a daily basis to boost your chances of a baby, the bottom line is that at the end of the day, it won’t be enough if you do, indeed, have fertility issues.
3. Infertility only affects women older than 35.
The truth: We always hear about women of a particular age having difficulty becoming pregnant, and while it’s true that eggs deteriorate with age, younger women in their 20s can struggle with infertility as well. Actually, studies show that a woman’s biological clock starts ticking in her late 20s, 27 to be exact.
4. Most women have an easy time becoming pregnant.
The truth: It makes sense why people would think that most women have an easy time getting pregnant. After all, our bodies were made for babies, but that doesn’t mean that some of us can’t struggle on our journeys to motherhood. Lots of women need a little extra help getting pregnant – and there’s no shame in that whatsoever.
5. Fertility treatments are a sure way to get pregnant.
The truth: Although undergoing fertility treatments boost your chances of a baby by five percent, many couples still struggle to conceive. Keep in mind that adoption is always an option if you know for a fact that kids are definitely something you want in your future. Although having fertility issues makes it more difficult to conceive, of course, it’s not impossible. Don’t lose hope!
