Women is in tension due to Infertility.
Oct 2024 Author
IVF

Some Common Infertility Facts and Myths You Should Know

Infertility is a major reproductive issue that is faced by many. However, not many understand what infertility is, its causes, and its cures. Because of this, there are many myths surrounding infertility. That said, it is extremely important to learn how to differentiate facts from myths. One of the best ways to differentiate myths from facts is to learn more about them.

In this blog, we provide you with a list of common myths along with their facts so that you can know the difference between them. Besides this, we will briefly lighten your understanding of what infertility is, its type, and its causes. Now, considering this, let's begin.

What is infertility?

women in tension

Typically, infertility represents a type of disorder within the reproductive system that can happen both to men and women. You are deemed to be suffering from infertility when you constantly and consciously try to conceive a child but are unable to for the past year. This form of reproductive defect can affect both males and females. For males, it is characterized by defects in sperm quantity and quality, along with issues related to erection. On the other hand, it is marked by disruptions in menstrual cycles or defects in the ovaries, ova, and uterus for females. The good news here is that some causes of infertility are preventable. Furthermore, you can also use treatments such as IVF to circumvent this problem.

Types of Infertility

Now that you know what infertility is, let's discuss its types. The two main types of infertility are there. These two major primary types are:

  • Primary Infertility: This is where the couple fails to conceive a child upon constant trying for one year.
  • Secondary Infertility: For secondary infertility to occur, you should have already conceived a child before. If you already have a child but cannot get pregnant after trying for a year, then you can be said to have secondary infertility.

Do note that while on paper, these types of infertility may sound only for women, the condition applies to those born as both males and females.

What Causes Infertility?

After knowing what infertility is and its types, let's discuss some of the key causes of infertility so that you can be prepared when we debunk some of the myths. The specific cause of infertility depends on the specifics of your health and lifestyle circumstances. Besides, the specific also depends on the gender in which you were born. That said, we can take out some of the key causes for both males and females. These key causes include:

For Men

These causes for men relate in a major way to erection, the quality of the sperm, and the quantity of the sperm. Apart from this, part of the cause can also be traced back to environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and genes. Considering these points, some major causes of infertility in males include the following:

  • Low Sperm Count: These conditions usually emanate from hormonal imbalances, infections, and aspects of lifestyle such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use. It cuts down the number of sperm available for fertilization, hence decreasing conception chances.
  • Erectile Dysfunction: Impotence or failure to sustain an erection is generally associated with stress, anxiety, or chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease that interfere with one's reproductive function.
  • Genetic Disorders: Such disorders as Klinefelter syndrome or Y chromosome microdeletion that interfere with the process of normal sperm production result in a low or total absence of sperm in the semen.
  • Infections: Most of the time, sexually transmitted diseases or infections, such as prostatitis or epididymitis, can cause inflammation and scarring of the reproductive organs and block the normal passage of sperm. Environmental Factors: Exposure to toxins, radiation, or extreme heat-toxic substances, radiations, or very high temperatures experienced in constant use of hot tubs or saunas-can adversely affect the production and quality of sperm.

For Women

As mentioned prior in our definition, infertility for women mostly has to do with their uterus and menstruation. These aside, a part of the cause for infertility can also be attributed to lifestyle choices and environmental factors as well. Keeping this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the key causes of infertility for women. 

  • Ovulation Disorders: These occur when hormonal imbalances, such as in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders, disrupt the normal release of eggs. Without regular ovulation, conception becomes difficult or impossible.
  • Fallopian Tube Damage: Blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, often due to pelvic infections or conditions like endometriosis, prevent sperm from reaching the egg or the fertilized egg from reaching the uterus.
  • Uterine Conditions: Issues such as fibroids (benign tumors), uterine polyps, or congenital abnormalities can interfere with the implantation of a fertilized egg or disrupt the uterine environment necessary for pregnancy.
  • Age: As women age, their fertility declines, particularly after age 35. This is due to a decrease in the number and quality of eggs, making conception more difficult and increasing the risk of miscarriage.
  • Endometriosis: A condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it, causing inflammation, scar tissue, and blockages in the fallopian tubes, all of which can lead to infertility.

Infertility Myths And Facts You Should Know

After getting the overall view of what infertility is, its causes, and its types, let’s now discuss some of the myths and their associated facts related to infertility. Now, note that these myths vary depending on the region you are in. The ones we mentioned here are just some of the common ones. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at some of the facts and myths about infertility.

Infertility Affects Men And Women Equally

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One of the most common myths about infertility is that it affects women more than men. This is not true at all. While the signs of infertility are indeed more obvious for women, it affects men just as much as women. When it comes to infertility, roughly 40-50% is caused by male factor infertility. So before you jump to conclusions and deem that women are more likely to be infertile when compared to men, you should check your infertility facts and know the truth rather than believe in myths.

Age Does Play A Role In Infertility

Another key infertility myth is that age does not play any form of role in infertility. This is a complete myth, as age is one of the key factors that determines infertility for both men and women. Although males do produce sperm for all their lives, their quality decreases with the increase in age. This is a key fact about male infertility that you should note. Besides age affecting male infertility, age also affects female infertility, as females only have a fixed amount of eggs. The more they age, the less eggs they have. Furthermore, similar to how age affects the sperm quality in men, it also affects the egg quality in females as well.

Secondary Infertility Is Possible

We previously provided you with a brief description of secondary infertility. Therefore, if you have read till this point, you should already be aware that secondary infertility is still possible. For those who skimmed, it is a type of infertility where you cannot get pregnant or conceive a child after a previous childbirth. Needless to say, it is just a myth that says once you have a child, you can always have the next one. This is because the fact remains that secondary infertility is always a possibility.

Medical Conditions Can Affect Fertility

Besides the myths regarding secondary infertility, there is also a myth that goes something like “other medical conditions do not affect fertility” when, in fact, other medical conditions do contribute. Conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and untreated sexually transmitted infections can all negatively impact fertility in both men and women.

Overweight or Underweight Can Impact Infertility

Weight has nothing to do with fertility - according to some people and a popular myth. This cannot be further away from the truth, as being both underweight and overweight has deep and long-lasting effects on fertility. Being underweight and overweight can disrupt hormonal levels, which in turn can affect ovulation in women and sperm quality in men. This further results in infertility. So, if you want to be fertile, it is highly important to maintain a healthy body weight.

Smoking Causes Infertility

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Besides managing your weight, you should also manage your smoking habits. Smoking is injurious to all aspects of health, including reproductive health as well. If anyone tells you that smoking does not contribute to infertility, they are believing in a myth. The chemicals you ingest while smoking can sharply reduce your reproductive urges and affect hormones associated with maintaining the quality of eggs and sperm. Furthermore, these chemicals can also directly harm egg and sperm quality. Smoking and infertility are linked as smoking leads to increased risks of miscarriage and pregnancy complications.

Psychological Factors Are Not a Major Cause of Infertility

Along with smoking, the other most important feature that is usually neglected by most people is psychological factors. Extreme stress and tension disorders have been affecting the reproductive health of an individual. Besides this, depression, insomnia, and all forms of mental health engagement are considered some of the major factors that truly affect fertility. This is because these mental disorders are generally caused by either trauma or hormonal imbalance. Both of these factors can influence personnel to lead an unhealthy lifestyle and mess up their health, leading to infertility.

Success Rate of IVF Treatment In Nepal

Another major myth regarding infertility is that it is hard to cure, but the treatments regarding infertility, such as IVF, have 100% success rates. Both these myths are just rumors because it is curable and treatments like IVF are not 100% successful, although these treatments do have high success rates, there is always some sort of risk of failure involved in these treatments.

Treatment Facts of Infertility

Infertility treatments range widely from drugs and hormone treatment to surgical procedures and to assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. The success of the treatment is related to the underlying cause of infertility, the age of the patient, and the overall treatment plan utilized. The last one would be Treatment Facts of Infertility; here, the common myth is that infertility treatments always work, or there is a guaranteed solution for every couple. That said, as earlier said, despite the high success rate prevalent in such sets of treatment, for instance, IVF; there is a margin of failure.

These are just some of the myths and facts associated with infertility. Besides the ones we mentioned here, there can be several other myths depending on your region and location. Regardless, we hope this was helpful to you in some way.

Conclusion

Infertility is a medical condition that is shrouded in mystery for many regular people. It is less understood than many other forms of health conditions. Therefore, there are many infertility myths. Few people even know what infertility is or that it has different types. Some of the common myths related to infertility are that it is not similarly suffered between males and females, age plays no role in it, and smoking does not cause infertility.

In this blog, we have provided a few most commonly held myths and facts about infertility. Also, we provided you with a small overview about infertility. We found this helpful, and hope you did too. You can certainly have more information about the different aspects of infertility by going through some other blogs on our website. As for the best options regarding infertility treatment in Nepal, Hardik IVF and Fertility Center is the place to be. Thanks for reading to the very end.

FAQs on Infertility Facts And Myths

What are some interesting facts about infertility?

There are many facts that you might find interesting about infertility. Some of these facts include:

  • Infertility affects men and women equally, with 30-40% of cases attributed to each gender.
  • About 1 in 6 couples worldwide experience infertility, making it a common issue.
  • Women’s fertility declines after age 30, while men’s sperm quality decreases around age 40.
  • Secondary infertility occurs when couples who have previously conceived struggle to do so again.
  • Smoking, alcohol, poor diet, stress, and weight issues can negatively impact fertility in both genders.
  • IVF is just one of many infertility treatments, with options like medications and surgeries also available.
  • Around 10-20% of infertility cases are unexplained, even after medical evaluations.
  • Stress doesn’t directly cause infertility but can affect overall health and sexual function.
  • Men produce millions of sperm daily, yet even a small decline can reduce fertility chances.
  • Egg freezing is becoming a popular option for women wanting to preserve fertility for the future.

What are the 3 main causes of infertility?

The three main causes of infertility include age, lifestyle factors, and genetic factors. Your fertility decreases with age, and if you live an unhealthy lifestyle, you can become infertile over time. Furthermore, if you carry specific genetic signatures, you can be born infertile or get infertile as you progress in age.

Why is it so hard to get pregnant?

There can be several reasons why you find it hard to become pregnant. Some of the key factors include:

  • Improper timing of ovulation
  • Increasing age
  • Medical conditions such as PCOS
  • Low sperm quantity and quality
  • Stress and bad mental health.
  • Unexplained infertility
  • Environmental factors

Can infertility be cured?

Yes, infertility can be cured. There are many cures for infertility, including but not limited to the following:

What are the top 5 myths about infertility?

The top 5 myths about infertility include:

  • Infertility is not just a woman's problem, as both men and women can experience fertility issues, with male factors accounting for 30-40% of cases.
  • Many believe age doesn’t matter for men, but sperm quality and quantity decline as men get older.
  • Stress is often thought to be the main cause of infertility, but it is usually linked to medical or physical conditions.
  • There is a misconception that using birth control causes permanent infertility, but most methods do not have lasting effects once stopped.
  • Many people think that in vitro fertilization (IVF) guarantees pregnancy, but success rates vary based on several factors, including age and health.

What are common infertility issues?

Some of the most common infertility issues include:

  • Conditions like PCOS disrupt egg release.
  • Obstructions that prevent sperm from reaching the egg.
  • Tissue growth outside the uterus affects fertility.
  • Fewer sperm in semen reduces fertilization chances.
  • Difficulty achieving an erection impacting conception.

Who is more likely to be infertile?

Both men and women have around a 40%-50% chance of being infertile. Therefore, both males and females are equally likely to be infertile.

What is the biggest factor in infertility?

The biggest factor in infertility is age, as women experience a significant decline in both egg quantity and quality after age 35, while men also see a gradual decrease in sperm quality as they age.