In honor of National Infertility Week April 24 – 30, 2011
Myth: If you just relax, you will get pregnant.
Truth: If only it were that easy! The fact is, the vast majority of individuals who have infertility have a medical reason, not a stress-related one. Upwards of 90% of all infertility cases are caused by physical problems. In the female partner, the major causes of infertility are absent or irregular ovulation, blocked fallopian tubes, abnormalities in the uterus, and endometriosis (a chronic painful condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus migrates into the pelvis and attaches to the reproductive organs). The male partner can have issues with sperm production which can lead to too few sperm, sperm which can’t swim correctly, and abnormally shaped sperm.
Where the stress/infertility connection may come in tends to be after one has been trying for a while, and the stress of not conceiving easily may then contribute to the problem. But there has never been a study which shows that simply relaxing increases pregnancy rates. Research does show that infertility patients who learn and practice a wide variety of stress reduction techniques can have higher pregnancy rates than patients who don’t learn those techniques.
Myth: You waited too long to have kids.
Truth: While it is true that fertility decreases with age, youth does not guarantee fertility. Many men and women in their 20’s have infertility. And women in their early 40’s can get pregnant and deliver healthy babies. However, if you know that you want to have children, the earlier you try, the less likely it is that you will have trouble.
Myth: It’s the woman’s fault.
Truth: Sometimes the fertility diagnosis lies with the woman, but it is just as likely to be an issue with her male partner. In order for a man to be fertile, he needs to have enough sperm (count or concentration), they need to be able to swim properly (motility) and they need to have normal shapes (morphology). Other contributory causes can be erectile dysfunction or lack of libido.
Myth: Something you did caused your infertility (too fit, too fat, ate the wrong food, had a STD…).
Truth: There are few lifestyle factors which permanently impact fertility. Smoking can be one of them, but many people have stopped smoking and been able to conceive within months. Obesity, and being underweight, are both associated with an increased risk of infertility, but losing or gaining weight can relatively quickly bring you back to the fertile zone. Eating unhealthy food can put you at risk for diseases such as heart disease and cancer, but switching to a more healthful diet- focusing on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dairy products are associated not only with a lower risk of disease but may increase one’s chance of ovulating normally. Once again, if you know that you want to have children, it is indeed a good idea to look at your health habits and if you have any which might hamper fertility, such as smoking, excess alcohol intake, being over or underweight, extremely vigorous exercise habits, or a big caffeine habit, adapting healthier habits can decrease your risk of experiencing infertility.
Myth: Infertility isn’t a disease.
Truth: Yes, it is. According to the dictionary, a disease is a “disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body”. Infertility in either the male or female partner is in fact directly due to some malfunction in the body, whether it be hormonal or structural.
Having a history of an eating disorder won’t impact your fertility as long as you are now at a normal weight.
Truth: Actually, there is evidence that having had an eating disorder in the past might increase your risk of having fertility issues later on, even if you are eating normally. Thus, if you do have an eating disorder history, it is a good idea to check in with your ob/gyn sooner rather than later and if you try for months and can’t conceive, you need to see an infertility specialist. Most cases of infertility can be successfully treated but don’t wait too long to be seen.
Myth: Infertility treatment is horrible and expensive.
Truth: Actually, many cases of infertility can be treated with simple inexpensive medications or procedures. A minority of infertility patients express high levels of anxiety and/or depression and many are hopeful that treatment will quickly lead to a pregnancy. While it is true that the high tech treatments are expensive, many infertility patients have some insurance coverage and if not, there are frequently payment options and plans available.
Myth: Adoption leads to conception.
Truth: This is actually one of the most enduring myths ever. The fact is, a certain percentage of infertile couples who “give up” trying to conceive then proceed to do so naturally, whether or not they adopt. Adoption per se does not make one more fertile.
Myth: Infertility medications cause cancer.
Truth: As far as we know, there is no known link between infertility medications and cancer. The medications have now been in use for more than 50 years. We do know that there can be an overlap, in that some of the things which cause infertility are associated with an increased risk of cancer, such as never being pregnant, or having polycystic ovarian syndrome. So it is likely to be the underlying cause of infertility, rather than the treatment, which is associated with cancer.
Myth: My husband is going to leave me for a fertile woman.
Truth: This is one of the most common fears of women experiencing infertility, yet the divorce rate in infertile couples is actually lower than that of couples with children. We don’t tend to marry someone for their eggs or sperm, and it is likely that your husband simply wants you to feel less miserable.
Myth: I had a terrible fight with my mother in law a couple of days after my embryo transfer and subsequently had a negative pregnancy test. The cycle failed because I was so stressed.
Truth: We actually don’t know the relationship between stress and IVF outcome. Many studies have shown a relationship, but they tend to measure distress long before the IVF cycle started. There has been no adequate research on distress during the actual cycle. However, it is unlikely that one fight would have prevented a pregnancy from occurring. Generally, it is believed that most cycles fail because the embryos were not genetically normal.
Myth: Certain foods cause infertility so elimination diets can increase fertility.
Truth: Actually, for most people, eating a wide variety of good foods gives you the best chance of conception. The exception to this is gluten, for people who have tested positive for celiac disease. However, unless a physician or registered dietician has told you to avoid certain foods or food groups, based upon specific medical testing, you should eat lots of lean meats, fruits and veggies, whole grain breads and cereals, good oils and nuts, and the occasional bowl of Ben and Jerry’s.
Alice D. Domar, Ph.D, is the Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health, Director of Mind/Body Services at Boston IVF, and an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. She is also the author of numerous books, including “Conquering Infertility.” Alice can be found at http://www.domarcenter.com.