There are many myths that can be heard every day about reproduction in our daily life, so we want to explain what is really true in this “True or False?
1. When you have children through assisted reproduction, multiple pregnancies and premature births occur.
FALSE. This myth is due to the fact that years ago it was more common to transfer two, three or more embryos to the woman, however, nowadays the tendency is to transfer only one embryo.
A multiple pregnancy, of course, carries higher risks than a singleton pregnancy, such as prematurity, which occurs in 50% of twin pregnancies and 90% of triplets. For this reason, we seek to minimize the risks of multiple pregnancy by recommending patients to transfer a single embryo.
2. A healthy woman can become pregnant naturally at the age of 40.
TRUE. Of course it is possible, however, although a woman in her 40’s can get pregnant naturally, the probability is much lower than in a woman seeking pregnancy at a younger age.
At 30 years of age, approximately 70% of a woman’s eggs are genetically normal, while at 40 years of age only 30% are normal. Therefore, the probability of pregnancy in women in their 40s is less than 10%.
3. Infertility is mostly female
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FALSE. The causes of infertility are due, depending on each case, to female, male or mixed causes. In general terms, according to statistics it is estimated that the proportions are similar in both sexes (30% in each) and that there are also problems directly linked to the couple, which are mixed causes. There is also the so-called idiopathic infertility, i.e. the cause is unknown.
4. Assisted reproduction treatments do not work in menopausal patients.
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FALSE. Thanks to ovodonation, a menopausal patient can achieve pregnancy by inseminating the donor’s eggs with the sperm of the recipient patient’s partner or a donor, and then transferring them to the mother’s uterus.
There is also the case that the patient herself has frozen her eggs years ago and can have a pregnancy in her menopause with her own eggs.
5. Sex during pregnancy harms the fetus.
FALSE. Sexual intercourse during pregnancy does not bother or harm the fetus, quite the contrary. When you have an orgasm, the endorphins secreted by your brain do reach the baby through the blood, causing pleasurable sensations: they activate him and then leave him relaxed.
On the other hand, when pregnancy is at term, prostaglandin hormones from semen and orgasm contractions can trigger labor contractions. It’s a nice way to start the birth.
6. The birth control pill can cause infertility.
FALSE. The contraceptive pill can mask hormonal problems that existed in the woman before she started taking them, since the use of hormonal contraceptives regularizes the cycle, giving the impression that everything is in order. For this reason, this myth has existed for many years.
7. There are ways to choose the sex of your baby.
FALSE: It is not possible to naturally choose the sex of your future baby, despite traditional beliefs that foods, habits and even sexual positions can influence the sex of your baby.
The procedures carried out in assisted reproduction clinics in Spain are intended to bring a child into the world, but not “à la carte”, i.e. the choice of sex is not allowed, as it is alien to the ethical and legal codes of our country.
8. The fertile life of men lasts longer than that of women.
TRUE. In women, the fertile capacity begins to decrease significantly after the age of 35, while in men, a decrease in this aspect begins to be seen after the age of 50, with direct repercussions on their general health, both in physical and psychological aspects.
There are emotional processes, in addition to other physical factors, that may prevent pregnancy from occurring.
9. Posture during or after intercourse can improve fertilization.
FALSE. According to experts, the only thing that favors gestation is a relaxed relationship that culminates in ejaculation at the bottom of the vagina, regardless of the position.
10. A healthy diet helps fertility.
TRUE. A poor diet, a high level of stress or bad habits in general can cause a hormonal imbalance that can interfere not only with a woman’s menstrual cycle, but also with a man’s sperm production. In addition, alterations in Body Mass Index (BMI) such as overweight, obesity or underweight have been related to subfertility and infertility in women.
In general, eating responsibly is good for your health, so if you are looking to get pregnant you will need to make some changes in your habits that can help you.
C. Orjuela, Embryologist.
Contact our fertility unit.
Vithas Perpetuo Internacional. Plaza del Doctor Gómez Ulla 15, in Alicante.
Phone: 965230397 / +34 606437458
Email: info@phifertlity.com
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