Busted! - Fertility Misconceptions Explained

Put your legs in the air after sex. You only need to worry if you’re 35. Being on the pill delays your fertility. True or false? We dispel the most common fertility myths–and tell you which ones are true.

- Nia Visagie

If you’re trying for a baby, you’ve probably read and been given an overwhelming mountain of information about how to fall pregnant. But not all of it is accurate. Read on to discover what to believe and what to just roll your eyes at. Show these myths to your partner too, as many of the topics relate to the male side of infertility. Sharing facts about your journey will bring you closer.

MYTH #1:

IT DOESN’T MATTER IF I DRINK AND SMOKE, AS LONG AS I GIVE UP WHEN I’M PREGNANT BUSTED!

Actually, this one couldn’t be further from the truth. Both smoking and drinking alcohol are proven to be detrimental to your chances of falling pregnant. “In women, smoking can delay pregnancy by up to a year. Smoking reduces the quantity and quality of a women’s eggs. And, it increases the risk of tubal pregnancies and miscarriages,” says specialist gynaecologist Dr Chris Venter of Vitalab Centre for Assisted Conception in Johannesburg. Not only does it impact your fertility, “Smoking also increases the risk of miscarriage four-fold,” he warns. It’s also a good idea to limit your alcohol intake when you’re trying to conceive – research shows it takes longer to conceive if you drink.

MYTH #2:

INFERTILITY IS ALWAYS THE WOMAN’S PROBLEM BUSTED!

“In couples who present with infertility, 30 percent of those cases are due solely to male infertility factors,” says Dr Venter. When men don’t experience a problem with erection and think of their performance during intercourse as normal, it’s often measured as a sign that there’s no problem with their fertility, but this is not necessarily the case.

MYTH #3:

FOODS AFFECT FERTILITY – AND A RUBBISH DIET WILL STOP YOU FALLING PREGNANT TRUE!