In this era of “octomoms” and families of 8 or 18 it is easy to understand how people can have misconceptions about infertility and its treatment. As I was searching for information and statistics regarding multiple births and fertility treatment (out of pure curiosity), I realized that there are A LOT of myths and misunderstandings when it comes to reproductive challenges and assistance. I, like a lot of other people, don’t always know the difference between truth and fiction when it comes to infertility and so I thought I would use this blog as a forum to address some of those myths and try to find the truths.
Probably one of the most prevalent general ideas about IVF is that it will lead to multiple births. While it is true that the transfer of multiple embryos increases the chances of the conception of multiples, it is also true that reputable reproductive endocrinologists transfer the smallest number of embryos possible to achieve a successful pregnancy. In fact, my RE would only transfer a maximum of two (three if over the age of 35,) and said repeatedly that his goal was to help us conceive a single, healthy child.
It also seems that many people believe that infertility issues are usually the “fault” of the woman. When we began to open up to people about our unsuccessful attempts to conceive it seemed that almost everyone assumed that I was the one with the “problem.” In our particular situation it is true that we had female factor infertility. Nevertheless, it is important to know that the reality is, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, that 35 percent of infertility is a result of a female problem, 35 percent a male problem, 20 percent combined issues, and in 10 percent of cases the problems conceiving are unexplained. These statistics highlight that infertility is by no means solely a female issue.
Another prominent misconception is the idea that many, many people think that infertility issues are rare and that most people can conceive easily. This is not only not true, but it also unfortunately contributes to people’s perception that if they are struggling to conceive they are different or abnormal. The facts are, according to the Centers for Disease Control, that more than 6.1 million people of child-bearing age experience infertility which is 10-15% of people who are of the “reproductive age.” You may be surprised that when you really begin to talk to people about reproductive struggles more of your friends or acquaintances than you would expect may be going through the same thing as you!
If you are “young” or already have a child you may also think, like so many others, that you aren’t really infertile if you are younger than 35 or have previously successfully conceived. These myths are just that, misconceptions that are simply not true. One or both partners in a relationship can develop fertility issues in the time between having a child and unsuccessful attempts to have another. Secondary infertility rates have been noted as high as occuring in over one million couples. Also, if a woman under the age of 35 has been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for over a year she is considered to be infertile. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine approximates up to 10% of women under 35 experience infertility. There is a lot of misinformation out there about infertility and fertility treatments. It helped me to understand what I was getting into when it came to fertility treatment attempts and to know that I wasn’t alone or abnormal – hopefully it helps you too.
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