When it comes to getting pregnant, the truth is all too often mired in myths passed down as old wives tales and common misconceptions. To distinguish fact from fiction, Mark Bush, MD, offers the following list of common infertility myths.
1. Infertility is a woman's problem.
Approximately 40 percent of the time, a male factor is involved
in a couple's inability to conceive.
2. Everyone else seems to get pregnant at a drop of a
hat.
More than five million people of childbearing age in the United
States experience infertility. The good news is that there are
a variety of therapies available to treat the medical obstacles
to having children. A thorough medical evaluation is
recommended to determine the underlying cause, however, many
patients are successful with minimally invasive treatment
options.
3. As long as I am having regular periods, I should be
fertile.
Even if a woman regularly ovulates, has regular periods, and
feels fine from adequate estrogen and progesterone secretion
from the ovary, the eggs that the ovaries produce as a woman
ages have a decreased ability to establish a pregnancy. Because
this decline in egg potential can vary from woman to woman, it
is important to seek a consultation with a specialist for basal
FSH and estradiol levels and provocative testing after the age
of 30. This consultation will give women the information they
need regarding their reproductive potential and allow them to
make informed decisions regarding their course of action.
4. Women over 40 should be able to conceive easily as
long as they are healthy.
Approximately two-thirds of women will not be able to get
pregnant spontaneously by the age of 40, according to the
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Nationally, the
percentage of IVF cycles in 2001 resulting in livebirths for
women aged 41 to 42 was 10.4 percent, whereas patients going
through IVF under the age of 35 have much higher success rates,
often as high as 50 percent. This underscores the need for
women to seek competent fertility care promptly.
5. Fertility drugs usually result in multiple
pregnancies.
Recent advances have led to increased pregnancy rates while
minimizing the risk for higher order multiples. Patients
undergoing intra-uterine insemination with gonadotropin
stimulation are closely monitored. For patients going through
in-vitro fertilization, improved technology has increased
pregnancy rates, leading to fewer embryos needing to be
transferred in order to maximize chance of pregnancy.
Nationally, the percentage of pregnancies with triplets or more
after IVF in 2001 ranged from 2.9 percent to 8.1 percent
depending on a woman's age.
6. I was able to conceive once, so I'll have no problem
conceiving again.
Past fertility does not ensure future fertility. More than half
of all women who experience infertility already have one
biological child, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
These women suffer from secondary infertility, or an inability
to conceive after a year when one or both partners have
previously conceived. Although more than three million
Americans are affected by secondary infertility, and the
prevalence rate is higher than that of primary infertility, few
couples seek treatment. The causes of secondary infertility
vary, but age is a primary factor.
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About the author: Mark Bush MD, of Littleton, Colorado-based Conceptions Women's Health and Fertility Specialists, has extensive experience in all aspects of reproductive endocrinology, infertility and assisted reproductive technologies. Dr Bush earned his medical degree from Georgetown University and completed a fellowship in infertility at Duke University Medical Center. For more information, visit www.conceptionsrepro.com.
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