Myths and Reality
Myth: It’s easy for most women to get pregnant.
Reality: There is a 25-30% chance each month that a woman under 35 will get pregnant and 80% of those trying will get pregnant within 12 months (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists-ACOG).
Myth: Men don’t have infertility issues.
Reality: According to American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) male factor infertility is responsible for approximately 20% of infertility diagnoses and is a contributing factor in another 30%–40% of couples facing infertility.
Myth: If you “work hard” enough at it, you’ll get pregnant.
Reality: 1 in 8 men and women across socio economic and ethnic backgrounds will face infertility regardless of how hard they try. It is a medical diagnosis not a college course.
Myth: Infertility can’t be treated.
Reality: There is treatment available for both male and female factor diagnoses.
Myth: You just need to relax and then it’ll happen.
Reality: Stress does not cause Infertility, it is a medical condition. But infertility does cause stress.
Myth: You already have a child. You no longer have to worry about infertility.
Reality: Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry to term a pregnancy after successfully having a child/ren and can occur to people even if they did not experience primary infertility (ASRM).
Myth: Your personal health has nothing to do with your infertility.
Reality: There are health factors that can cause or increase the likelihood of infertility. Speak and share your medical history with your doctor to determine if there is an underlying cause.
Myth: Everyone else around me is having a kid without a problem!
Reality: 1 in 8 other men and women around you are struggling to conceive. You may not know who they are, but you are definitely not alone.
Myth: Nobody could possibly understand what we’re going through.
Reality: 1 in 8 men and women each year face this diagnosis and understand what it is like to live in a world where everyone else appears to be having children except for them.
