Fertility is such a complicated journey, isn't it? It can feel so lonely and isolating. And even if you do decide to open up about your story to others, you may end up getting lots of unsolicited advice. As if the path to parenthood wasn't hard enough - you're now hearing about what worked for your coworker's cousin's neighbor. 🤪
As a fertility coach, I take my job of educating women and couples very seriously. I do my best to help you drown out the noise and get to the research-backed, science-based truth about getting and staying pregnant.
Here are five of the most common myths around fertility:
Female infertility is more common than male infertility: According to a study out of Cleveland Clinic, at least half of all cases of infertility are related to male factor. This means that testing should be done on male and female partners when determining the root causes of any fertility issues.
Couples should try to conceive for a year before seeking help: Although many OB/GYNs will not dive deep into fertility testing/diagnostics until a year has gone by, I certainly don’t recommend waiting if you think you’ll need additional support to conceive. Bringing on a fertility coach early in the journey will optimize both emotional and physical health, and can help you navigate when and how to take the next steps. (You can read about other specialists I recommend for a fertility team here!)
Your health doesn’t impact your chances of conceiving: While general health isn’t the only factor to determine fertility, it definitely plays a big role. As a fertility coach, I focus on supporting the health of the entire body, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. You can read some of my favorite ways to achieve optimal health here.
Regular periods mean you won’t have trouble conceiving: Cycles between 26-35 days are considered ideal, but having a regular cycle doesn’t guarantee that you’ll conceive easily. Other factors can contribute to fertility struggles, such as anovulatory cycles (where the body doesn’t ovulate though bleeding occurs), fallopian tube blockages, and issues in the uterus.
If you have hormonal issues like PCOS, you won’t be able to conceive naturally: PCOS is the top cause of infertility in the US, but it doesn’t mean that natural conception is impossible. Fortunately, symptoms of PCOS can be managed with the appropriate lifestyle changes. You can read more about improving your fertility with PCOS here.
Did any of these surprise you? What “bad advice” have you been given on your TTC journey? What myth hurt you the most, and what do you wish you could share with other women on the journey now?
Know that I'm always here if you have questions or need a safe space to vent. The path may be winding, but you're never alone!
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