Growing up, you may have heard that swallowing a watermelon seed would cause a watermelon to grow in your belly, or that your face might freeze into any silly expression you make. Myths like these have long been a part of human history, and fertility is no exception.

Putting stock in fertility misconceptions isn’t helpful and can actually be harmful, so it’s best to stick with sound science. Let’s talk about common misconceptions we need to debunk. 

1. Infertility Is Uncommon and Always a Female Problem

There is a long history of blaming women for infertility and shaming couples who experience it. As a result, many people hide their fertility struggles, and many are unaware that infertility can be male-factor, female-factor, or both. The unnecessary suffering caused by this myth makes it one of the most harmful fertility misconceptions.

In reality, infertility is a common problem, and treatment is available to help. Support groups and online communities can also be very helpful in dealing with the emotional toll of infertility. While it’s always a personal decision whether or not to disclose your fertility journey to others, you may find that people in your own life can relate to what you’re going through. As a society we need to talk more about fertility struggles, and no one should feel alone.

2. You Can Get Pregnant at Any Time of the Month

Odds are you were told during high school health class that you could get pregnant at any time of the month, and advised to always use some kind of birth control.

Given that women’s cycles and ovulation vary and can be unpredictable, this is actually sound advice if you don’t want to get pregnant. But if you’re actively trying to conceive, you should throw this misconception out the window.The reality is you can only conceive during your fertile window–the 12-24 hours after you ovulate and the five days preceding ovulation. This makes it essential that you learn to predict ovulation and time intercourse with your fertile window when TTC.

3. Some Positions Are Better for Conceiving

Have you ever heard that missionary is the best position for conceiving or that raising your legs in the air after having sex will help you conceive? While these sound like they might work to help sperm reach the egg, there’s really no evidence to suggest sexual positions make any difference.

In fact, sperm are easily able to swim through the female reproductive tract, regardless of your position. However, if you do have problems with sperm motility, intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are far more effective methods to help you get pregnant. 

4. Taking Cough Syrup Will Help You Get Pregnant

The idea that taking cough syrup will help you get pregnant is one of the most dangerous fertility misconceptions, though there is some logic behind it. The thought process is that since cough syrup thins mucus in the reproductive tract, it might also thin cervical mucus, making it easier for sperm to pass through.

Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that taking cough syrup helps your fertility. Plus, cough syrup often contains other ingredients that may be harmful to your health and fertility. So please, don’t try chugging Mucinex to help you get pregnant. Come see us at Halo Fertility instead. 

5. You Should Wait to See a Fertility Specialist

There are many reasons people wait to see a fertility specialist. Some people delay care because they feel ashamed of struggling with infertility, while others worry about the cost. Others might want to first make lifestyle changes to improve their health and egg quality. And some people simply don’t know when they should seek help. 

In general, we advise people to see a fertility specialist after 12 months of trying to become pregnant, or after six months if you’re over 35. There are many times when you should seek care earlier. It’s also never wrong to see a fertility specialist just for your own piece of mind. 

You should see a fertility specialist soon if:

• You want to freeze your eggs or sperm.
• You have cancer or another illness that requires treatment which may harm your fertility.
• You have irregular menstrual cycles.
• You have a condition, like PCOS or endometriosis, which may impact your fertility.
• You are planning a gender transition and want to preserve your fertility.
• You need help with LGBTQ+ family building.
• You’ve had two or more miscarriages. 

Remember, when it comes to fertility, time is of the essence. While taking a little time to conceive is perfectly normal and lifestyle changes may help you become healthier and improve the quality of your eggs, you shouldn’t postpone seeing a fertility specialist with the hope of having healthier eggs. Age impacts your egg quality more than anything else. Instead of delaying care, work on healthy lifestyle changes while you undergo treatment. 

And while fertility care is undeniably expensive, particularly if your insurance doesn’t cover it, at Halo Fertility we strive to make fertility care as accessible as possible. Our financial coordinator and Dr. Macer will work with you to help you afford your care, and we offer in-house financing to patients who qualify. 

Navigating fertility and fertility care often feels confusing. If you need help growing your family or preserving your fertility, schedule an appointment with the Halo Fertility Team. We take the time to help you understand your reproductive health and any proposed treatment so you can make informed decisions throughout your fertility journey.