Across the globe, infertility continues to be a rising problem. Even in India, as per the SRS data of 2020, the general fertility rate has witnessed a decline of 20 per cent in 10 years. Despite it being a matter of concern, infertility still continues to be one of the topics that is easily misinterpreted and misunderstood. There’s social media noise around it, taboos, advice from pseudo-experts, a lot of our own biases and opinions and limited awareness. For potential parents who’re seeking to conceive, it can be an overwhelming experience to not just go through the journey but also be weighed down by the information they have about infertility.
Myra IVF’s Dr. Sarita Sukhija says, “Knowledge is power. When you know the right information, you can make the right decisions too. When I talk to people who’re on their journey to embrace parenthood, I try to not just assist them at a superficial level, but also dive deep into any concern or misinformation they might have.”
As per WHO, infertility is the inability to conceive despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse, over a span of one year. For individuals above 35, that time span is six months. Infertility can happen due to various factors like: genetics, lifestyle, age, hormones and so on. While we can work on a few, for some we might need professional help. Even infertility is of two types. It’s primary when a person has never conceived before and secondary when they have conceived before, but can’t conceive again.
There are several myths and preconceived notions about infertility which can lead us to making uninformed decisions. That’s why it’s important to keep them in check. Dr. Sarita Sukhija, the visionary behind Myra IVF, busted those myths below:
Myth 1: Infertility is a problem only for older couples
Truth: Infertility can exist regardless of age as well
As much as infertility exists in couples over the age of 35, it can exist in younger ones too. For women, there might be ovarian dysfunction, polycystic ovarian syndrome or any other medical condition that can impact their fertility. While for men too, their low sperm count or poor motility of sperms can be present at a younger age as well.
Myth 2: Infertility is an issue only with women
Truth: Infertility is an issue with both men and women
Often, women are assumed to be the ones who battle with infertility because of the decreasing number and quality of their eggs. But in males too, infertility can be a result of low sperm count, poor sperm motility and other genetic factors. Men need to keep their reproductive health in check as much as women.
Myth 3: A man’s fertility is linked to his ejaculation
Truth: Ejaculation is not the only determinant of fertility
Apart from their lower sperm count, male infertility can be caused by a difference in sperm movement and shape as well. So just because ejaculation seems normal doesn’t mean there won’t be infertility because it can be due to the quality of sperm as well and not necessarily sperm count alone.
Myth 4: Regular periods mean fertility
Truth: Menstrual cycles are not the only indicators of fertility.
Regularity in periods is important but it’s not the only marker for guaranteeing fertility in women. There are other conditions as well which might be asymptomatic and cause infertility. Conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, tubal blockages can also persist despite regular period cycles and in turn impact the fertility levels of women.
Myth 5: Birth control causes infertility
Truth: Fertility is regained soon after discontinuing the birth control
Another common myth is that consuming birth control is a cause of infertility. However, there’s no evidence for the same. After stopping contraception, fertility comes back in a span of weeks or months.
Myth 6: Women can’t be pregnant after the age of 35
Truth: Women can have successful and healthy pregnancies even after the age of 35
While age does impact fertility but that doesn’t negate the possibility of pregnancy at later ages. There’s a common assumption that once the age of 35 is crossed, there’s no chance of pregnancy. However, it’s not true. There are other factors that impact fertility, apart from age alone.
Infertility does feel like a puzzle which is hard to resolve. There’s a lack of awareness, consumption of information from unreliable resources or even our own rigid taboos that we’ve carried from the people before and around us. But knowing the right information is key. Which is why it’s important to consult the right sources before making any decision and to seek professional help to navigate through the journey.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
