Facts and Myths

There are many myths about infertility that exists in the minds of people. With the advancement of medical science, these myths have been replaced by facts. Some common myths and facts are stated below:

Myth : Infertility is the same thing as sterility, and it’s rather rare. Fact : Sterility is the complete inability to reproduce where as infertility is “sub-fertility,” or impaired fertility. A sterile person cannot reproduce but about 70 percent of those who seek treatment for infertility are eventually able to have a baby
Fact : Sterility is the complete inability to reproduce where as infertility is “sub-fertility,” or impaired fertility. A sterile person cannot reproduce but about 70 percent of those who seek treatment for infertility are eventually able to have a baby.

Myth : Infertility is a women's problem
Fact : 1/3^rd of cause is attributed to women, 1/3^rd to men and 1/3^rd to either both or unexplained. Therefore infertility is not only a woman's problem.

Myth : Women are having babies well into their forties, so it’s probably safe to delay childbearing.
Fact : Fertility is definitely age related. Studies have suggested that on an average, female fertility declines slightly starting at age 27, but drops off in a clinically meaningful amount around age 35 and then dramatically at age 40. The ideal age for conceiving for a woman is in her twenties.

Myth : Infertility is caused by the stress. (“Just relax”)
Fact : In most cases, about 80 to 85 percent of the time, doctors diagnose a medical cause as a factor leading to infertility for which no amount of relaxation will help. In cases of unexplained infertility, often infertility is caused by rare problems that are impossible to discover through a routine checkup. Chronic stress and fatigue may alter hormones, but most cases fertility drugs are helpful in cases where hormones fall outside of normal ranges.

Myth : Doctors take huge risks with embryos in high-tech programs, making these options unethical
Fact : With the help of pro active measures taken by the patients in managing their treatment risk to the embryo can be minimized. For example, a couple can limit the number of potential embryos (i.e., the number of eggs exposed to sperm) to a number they are willing to carry to term in that cycle, and hence avoid the ethical minefield of pregnancy reduction.

Myth : The “hips up theory” is the best position for conception
Fact : Position makes no difference sperm has to reach cervical mucus within five minutes, or they are inactivated by the active PH of the vagina. Hips resting on a pillow or staying in the position at the time of ejaculation will not increase the chances of fertilization.

Myth : Egg freezing is only useful for women with medical conditions like cancer
Fact : Egg freezing is an evolving option for women under 37 years of age who are concerned about their fertility options. Egg freezing is currently still considered experimental, and should only be done as part of a research protocol.

Myth : Methods like acupuncture don’t help with infertility
Fact : Studies comparing women who have acupuncture and women who don't, indicate it may enhance fertility. Many acupuncturists now specialize in fertility, and “our patients who have utilized acupuncture and other complementary methods may have benefited,” says Dr. Pang of RSC.

Myth : Adoption cures infertility. (“Just adopt and you’ll get pregnant.”)
Fact : Researches have shown that out of those adoptive families who have experienced infertility, mostly approximately half have been under medical treatment for infertility on an average of three years prior to adopting. It has been estimated that between five and fourteen percent of couples who quit treatment to pursue adoption eventually conceive. This percentage is same as for couples who quit treatment and choose not to adopt & subsequently conceive. The flawed idea behind this myth is that if couples do not think about getting pregnant, it will happen for them.

Myth : IVF is considered unnatural.
Fact : IVF is the most natural way in which genetic composition of the man and the women need to form a baby. Since this process is not possible inside a woman’s body either because of tubal blockage or poor sperm count, IVF helps in bringing the egg and the sperm together outside the body.

Myth : IVF is very expensive
Fact : Most people avoid IVF expecting this to be an exorbitant process costing lakhs. However most IVF cycles including drugs costs between Rs.1 lakhs – Rs. 1.5 Lakhs.

Myth : IVF is an end of the road process
Fact : Many people shun away from IVF thinking that if this process is unsuccessful they will never be able to become pregnant. However, there are many couples who conceive naturally or with IUI even after IVF

Myth : IVF babies have malformations
Fact : The background risk for congenital malformation after natural conception is 2-3 %. With IVF it increases by 0.5 – 1 %. Majority of IVF pregnancies give rise to normal babies.

Myth : IVF is a very painful process
Fact : IVF is not as painful as many people think it to be. Apart from the inconvenience and discomfort of multiple injections (between 1-2 per day for 10-14 days). There is no other painful procedure involved. Egg collection which can be a painful process is done under Anesthesia so that the patient feels no pain. Embryo Transfer is again a painless process.

Myth : There is need of complete bed rest in IVF pregnancies
Fact : Though extra precaution is recommended in first three months of pregnancy, most patients can carry on with normal activities including there job till the final stage of pregnancy

Myth : Certain dietary changes improve pregnancy rates.
Fact : There is no particular diet that has shown to improve IVF pregnancy rates. People living in different parts of the world with varying dietary habits get pregnant with IVF. However, a healthy food habit is recommended. A good mixture of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and plenty of water is advised. It is best to avoid spicy and oily food.

Myth : Alternative therapies like acupuncture Improve IVF pregnancy rates
Fact : Though certain studies have shown to improve IVF pregnancy rates by acupuncture, most robust large scale studies have failed to show this improvement.