Half-truths, myths, facts and rumors swirl about conception and fertility. Here are 12 data to better demystify the true from the false!
Fact: Infertility affects both women and men equally. For a long time, all the problems associated with infertility were wrongly attributed to women. However, recent data on the subject show that 40% of cases of infertility are due to a female problem, 40% to a male problem and finally the remaining 20% would be caused by a combination of the two.
Myth: Unable to conceive naturally: worry after two months.
Doctors will consider infertility if you have not been able to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sex (or after 6 months if you are aged 35 or over). Here are more reasons to see your doctor before thinking about pregnancy.
Fact: Depending on our age, the time it takes to conceive a child is different. Exactly! At age 30, a woman has a 75% chance of achieving this within a year of starting trials. At 40, she only has a 44% chance.
Time to conceive
- At age 25, a couple has an average of 25%chance of achieving pregnancy in each cycle, with an average time to conception of 3 to 6 months
- The average couple manages to give birth to a baby after 6 months to 12 months.
- The percentage of women who have conceived a child:
- After one year of regular intercourse without contraception is 84%
- After 2 years it is 92%
- Nearly 80% of couples conceive naturally after 2 years
- 60% of couples who have difficulty conceiving a child after 1 year
Source: He alth-Medicine
Fact: The father's age also influences fertility. Indeed, men between the ages of 30 and 34 are in the most fertile period of their life.
Fact: After the age of 30, women have more difficulty conceiving naturally. Age is indeed a factor that influences fertility, but other factors are also involved (lifestyle, for example). Waiting beyond 30 before having children is not always a good idea biologically speaking. As the years pass, the chances of conceiving decrease. In addition to having more difficulty conceiving, these women are often at greater risk of miscarriage or potential medical complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Myth: After adopting a child, it will be easier to conceive a baby naturally. Lucky couples who manage to have a baby naturally afterhaving adopted one, we know it around us! The most plausible explanation: stress or pressure to achieve a pregnancy at all costs prevented fertility. However, this is an exceptional situation – which is why it is so noticeable – which does not solve the fertility problems of all couples.
Fact: A he althier lifestyle can improve your fertility. Some weight-related issues (both overweight and underweight) can influence fertility, as they often cause hormonal imbalance. If women manage to get pregnant even after 35 years, it is partly because they have a he althier lifestyle and pay attention to their diet. Bulk advice: avoid drinking alcohol, stop smoking, a he althy and balanced diet, sufficient hours of sleep and for guys… avoid anything that increases the temperature of the testicles (heat decreases sperm production)!
Fact: After stopping the pill, it can take up to 6 months for the menstrual cycle to recover. But the birth control pill does not influence or delay the chances of future pregnancies. According to the Masexualité.ca website, most women can become pregnant immediately after stopping the pill. However, it is wise to wait for the natural cycle to re-establish, which may take several months.
Fact & Myth: Missing a pill during a cycle can cause pregnancy. Theoretically it's true, but in reality, it's unlikely to happen.
Fact: Folic acid and multivitamins are suggested when trying for a baby. He alth Canada recommends that all women who may become pregnant, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, to take a daily multivitamin containing folic acid at least 12 weeks before conception, during their pregnancy and 4 to 6 weeks after the birth of their baby, or until they stop breastfeeding. Folic acid prevents neural tube defects while the multivitamin prevents deficiencies in pregnant women and eliminates the possibility of other problems in the baby.
Fact & Myth: No matter when in your cycle, you can get pregnant. You can conceive only when you ovulate, however, Since every woman's cycle is different – and can vary from month to month – it is difficult to predict the day and duration of ovulation. This is why you have to know your cycle and your body well if you want to become pregnant. Also, the Masexualité.ca site reminds us that sperm can survive for several days in the woman's body. This means that having sex even well before ovulation could cause pregnancy.
Myth: Stress influences fertility.
Relaxing is not a guarantee of fertility, but the fact remains that stress caninfluence the situation. According to MédiResource, experts believe that there is a relationship between stress and infertility, but that it is secondary to other causes of infertility. In fact, too much stress causes some women to experience hormonal fluctuations that can delay or prevent the release of an egg. In men, stress can reduce the amount of sperm produced.
