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20 Fertility Myths: True or False
Dr. Meike Uhler discusses 20 fertility myths and whether they are true or false.
Featuring:
Meike Uhler, MD
Dr. Meike Uhler is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University in Chicago, followed by a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, Los Angeles. Most recently, Dr. Uhler is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology on the faculty at Loyola University School of Medicine. Her research interests and scientific publications focus on the evaluation and treatment of female and male infertility. Transcription:
Caitlin Whyte: Many people don't know much about the fertility process until they are at the crossroads of starting their own. So in this episode, we'll discuss common fertility myths doctors hear, and whether or not they are true. Can hot tubs hurt fertility, do certain sexual positions boost chances of conception. How about an irregular period? Does that mean infertility? Well, we'll find out with Dr. Meike Uhler, a Physician and the Managing Director of the Fertility Centers of Illinois. This is the Time to Talk Fertility podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte. So if I don't have a regular period, that means I have infertility.
Dr. Uhler: So that statement is false because if you don't have a regular period, it could maybe put you at a more of a disadvantage, but it probably needs to be investigated. There are some common reasons for lack of regular period, such as thyroid disease or some other hormone levels that may be abnormal, but it could be potentially easily corrected. And doesn't necessarily mean that someone would have infertility.
Host: Another myth. If I was on the pill too long, then I've messed up my fertility.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. Studies have actually been done on women on birth control pills. And what they showed us is there is no change in fertility. So if we look at the one year rate, if you look at the three month rate of pregnancy, it might be lower. But at the one year mark, which is the definition of infertility, the pregnancy rates are the same between a woman who has been on the pill for extended periods and a woman who's not been on the pill. So that is false.
Host: What about, I can't have a baby after 40.
Dr. Uhler: Again, it may be more difficult to have a baby after 40, because age does correlate with pregnancy rates, but it is possible after testing and potentially treatment, many women are having babies after 40.
Host: Here's the one I grew up hearing, hot tubs hurt male fertility.
Dr. Uhler: So, I think that that is false. First of all, the rationale behind that is that the testes are located outside of the body because they need a cooler temperature. So being in a hot tub for a long period of time, theoretically could decrease male fertility. But really if you just stay in the hot tub for a reasonable period of time, it's not going to affect the sperm, but the testes are outside of the body for a reason.
Host: On the opposite side of that spectrum, special underwear that keeps testicles cool can help with fertility.
Dr. Uhler: Again, it's not necessary. That is false. It's not necessary to do anything special to keep the testes cool, they are outside of the body, they are just fine. They don't need any kind of cooling. And if you do reasonable activities like hot tub or you're outside in the cold weather, it's okay. It's natural.
Host: How about a woman who is older, but in very good health will have healthier eggs for longer.
Dr. Uhler: That's not necessarily true. So I guess I would have to say that's a false. Of course, it's better to be in good health to be normal body weight, not smoking, et cetera. But age is very much a prognostic factor for pregnancy, does not mean that because you're in good health that you necessarily will have healthier eggs. So testing is needed.
Host: Smoking is of course a big one, but smoking doesn't affect egg and sperm health.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. Smoking has been shown to definitely correlate with infertility in both men and women.
Host: If you want to get pregnant, you need to have sex every day.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. It's a lot of pressure to have sex every day. The recommendation would be every other day around the time of ovulation.
Host: And what about women? Are they diagnosed with infertility more often than men?
Dr. Uhler: That is false. The single largest group of reason for infertility is actually male factor, comprising 40% of all causes for infertility.
Host: Too much exercise can hurt fertility in women.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I would have to define what too much exercise is. I mean, most women, most people exercise three to four hours per week. If you're going to go a little bit more than that, that's fine. We do have people who exercise extensively like marathon runners who may or may not have problems. So not necessarily, but we always advise in attempting pregnancy for moderation.
Host: Changing your diet can help with boosting fertility.
Dr. Uhler: I would say that that's false. It's very, it's very difficult if a patient is in the normal weight range to have a much healthier diet that would boost fertility. Of course, if a patient is overweight or obese and can lose weight that might help them have more regular menstrual cycles and help might help their fertility. But if they are otherwise healthy with normal weight range, I don't think that just changing the diet will assure fertility.
Host: Extra weight hurts fertility in men and women. How about that myth?
Dr. Uhler: I would say that that is true. So overweight can make a woman have irregular cycles, which then can lead to infertility. And there've been studies and men as well. It depends on how much overweight they are or if it gets obese or morbidly obese, then it can bring on other health problems which can affect fertility. So it is possible.
Host: Now, if a woman has gotten pregnant before she won't have any issues in the future.
Dr. Uhler: That is false because we do have women who have what we call secondary infertility, meaning they've gotten pregnant before, but now they can't get pregnant. And that is a very frustrating group. So things change over time. So it's important to do testing and seek help if pregnancy is not occurring within one year, if under the age of 35 or more than six months after the age of over 35.
Host: So now we'll touch on a few sex myths laying down, after sex or embryo transfer improves chances of conception.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I know there are people who think that we should wait for, you know, an hour or two hours. There's really no defined set of time. The sperm should be able to, they have motility. They can go up into the uterus and meet the egg when it's supposed to. And if an embryo transfer is occurring, the embryo is not going to fall out, if they stand up. So it's going to be fine.
Host: Certain sexual positions can help with getting pregnant.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I don't think that anyone knows which position is best. And again, as long as the sperm are getting into the vagina where it's supposed to be, the sperm is modal. It goes up, it can meet the egg and the fallopian tube, which has a normal site of when the egg and the sperm meet. Then theoretically, it does not matter which position is used during intercourse.
Host: Now what about using a lubricant during sex? Can that hurt the chances of conception?
Dr. Uhler: It might, that is true. So it depends upon the lubricant. There are certain ones that are recommended that are supposed to be safe for those couples attempting pregnancy. One of them is Pre-Seed, but some of the other ones that are on the market, like popular ones, like KY those can actually be spermicidal.
Host: Wow. How about if a woman is starting menopause, that means she cannot have a baby.
Dr. Uhler: Well, again, that might make it more difficult. It depends on how far she is into menopause, but it is possible to have a baby through egg donation. That has a very high chance of success. So it depends upon how far along she is, how many eggs are remaining, what age she is, but it is possible even if the woman's in menopause to have a, to have pregnancy through egg donation.
Host: A few more left here in our list. How about age does not affect male fertility?
Dr. Uhler: I think that the, it's not as definite as in female, we know in a female that as age increases, fertility declines, there have been some studies recently looking at male fertility. And there is some point at which the age of the man is also going to have an effect on fertility. It's just not as well known and not as pronounced as in the female.
Host: Supplements can help with men with sperm issues.
Dr. Uhler: I think we always recommend a men's vitamin for antioxidants in the men. Some of our male infertility specialists have also recommended coenzyme Q10, whether it will definitively help with sperm issues we don't know, but it certainly will not hurt with the sperm issues, but we can't say we'll definitively take care of the male problem they might have.
Host: And the last one here on our list today, prescription medication cannot impact fertility.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. So many medications have side effects, which in turn can affect the sperm can affect the egg, etc. So I think always the benefits and the risk have to be weighed. So someone who has, let's say high blood pressure, they've taken medication, then that's very important, but prescription medications can affect any kind of medications can affect fertility. It's best to check with your doctor.
Host: Dr. Uhler, so many of these myths are pretty common in my opinion, but so many of them turned out to be false. I mean, what does that say for just people looking for the right education on fertility?
Dr. Uhler: I know there's so much that we can get out on social media, right? I mean, you just do a search, you can take you to all kinds of places. I mean, I think the best thing to do is probably talk to your doctor who can answer your questions from a fact medical point of view. That's probably the best source. It's hard with so many, just going to the computer gives you an instant answer right away. It's just so you can get it so fast, but you got to get the right answer. Cause otherwise it could be doing, could spend a lot of time doing something or searching something that's not worthwhile.
Host: So, I think the best thing to do is talk to a medical professional, of course. Well, thank you so much for clearing these up. Dr. Uhler. I know I learned a lot. I'm embarrassed to say today, myself. That was Dr. Meike Uhler, a physician and the managing director of the fertility centers of Illinois, please. Call (877) 324-4483 to schedule an initial consult. And if you enjoyed this podcast, find more like it in our podcast library and be sure to give us a like, and to follow if you do. This has been the Time to Talk Fertility Podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte, stay safe.
Caitlin Whyte: Many people don't know much about the fertility process until they are at the crossroads of starting their own. So in this episode, we'll discuss common fertility myths doctors hear, and whether or not they are true. Can hot tubs hurt fertility, do certain sexual positions boost chances of conception. How about an irregular period? Does that mean infertility? Well, we'll find out with Dr. Meike Uhler, a Physician and the Managing Director of the Fertility Centers of Illinois. This is the Time to Talk Fertility podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte. So if I don't have a regular period, that means I have infertility.
Dr. Uhler: So that statement is false because if you don't have a regular period, it could maybe put you at a more of a disadvantage, but it probably needs to be investigated. There are some common reasons for lack of regular period, such as thyroid disease or some other hormone levels that may be abnormal, but it could be potentially easily corrected. And doesn't necessarily mean that someone would have infertility.
Host: Another myth. If I was on the pill too long, then I've messed up my fertility.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. Studies have actually been done on women on birth control pills. And what they showed us is there is no change in fertility. So if we look at the one year rate, if you look at the three month rate of pregnancy, it might be lower. But at the one year mark, which is the definition of infertility, the pregnancy rates are the same between a woman who has been on the pill for extended periods and a woman who's not been on the pill. So that is false.
Host: What about, I can't have a baby after 40.
Dr. Uhler: Again, it may be more difficult to have a baby after 40, because age does correlate with pregnancy rates, but it is possible after testing and potentially treatment, many women are having babies after 40.
Host: Here's the one I grew up hearing, hot tubs hurt male fertility.
Dr. Uhler: So, I think that that is false. First of all, the rationale behind that is that the testes are located outside of the body because they need a cooler temperature. So being in a hot tub for a long period of time, theoretically could decrease male fertility. But really if you just stay in the hot tub for a reasonable period of time, it's not going to affect the sperm, but the testes are outside of the body for a reason.
Host: On the opposite side of that spectrum, special underwear that keeps testicles cool can help with fertility.
Dr. Uhler: Again, it's not necessary. That is false. It's not necessary to do anything special to keep the testes cool, they are outside of the body, they are just fine. They don't need any kind of cooling. And if you do reasonable activities like hot tub or you're outside in the cold weather, it's okay. It's natural.
Host: How about a woman who is older, but in very good health will have healthier eggs for longer.
Dr. Uhler: That's not necessarily true. So I guess I would have to say that's a false. Of course, it's better to be in good health to be normal body weight, not smoking, et cetera. But age is very much a prognostic factor for pregnancy, does not mean that because you're in good health that you necessarily will have healthier eggs. So testing is needed.
Host: Smoking is of course a big one, but smoking doesn't affect egg and sperm health.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. Smoking has been shown to definitely correlate with infertility in both men and women.
Host: If you want to get pregnant, you need to have sex every day.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. It's a lot of pressure to have sex every day. The recommendation would be every other day around the time of ovulation.
Host: And what about women? Are they diagnosed with infertility more often than men?
Dr. Uhler: That is false. The single largest group of reason for infertility is actually male factor, comprising 40% of all causes for infertility.
Host: Too much exercise can hurt fertility in women.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I would have to define what too much exercise is. I mean, most women, most people exercise three to four hours per week. If you're going to go a little bit more than that, that's fine. We do have people who exercise extensively like marathon runners who may or may not have problems. So not necessarily, but we always advise in attempting pregnancy for moderation.
Host: Changing your diet can help with boosting fertility.
Dr. Uhler: I would say that that's false. It's very, it's very difficult if a patient is in the normal weight range to have a much healthier diet that would boost fertility. Of course, if a patient is overweight or obese and can lose weight that might help them have more regular menstrual cycles and help might help their fertility. But if they are otherwise healthy with normal weight range, I don't think that just changing the diet will assure fertility.
Host: Extra weight hurts fertility in men and women. How about that myth?
Dr. Uhler: I would say that that is true. So overweight can make a woman have irregular cycles, which then can lead to infertility. And there've been studies and men as well. It depends on how much overweight they are or if it gets obese or morbidly obese, then it can bring on other health problems which can affect fertility. So it is possible.
Host: Now, if a woman has gotten pregnant before she won't have any issues in the future.
Dr. Uhler: That is false because we do have women who have what we call secondary infertility, meaning they've gotten pregnant before, but now they can't get pregnant. And that is a very frustrating group. So things change over time. So it's important to do testing and seek help if pregnancy is not occurring within one year, if under the age of 35 or more than six months after the age of over 35.
Host: So now we'll touch on a few sex myths laying down, after sex or embryo transfer improves chances of conception.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I know there are people who think that we should wait for, you know, an hour or two hours. There's really no defined set of time. The sperm should be able to, they have motility. They can go up into the uterus and meet the egg when it's supposed to. And if an embryo transfer is occurring, the embryo is not going to fall out, if they stand up. So it's going to be fine.
Host: Certain sexual positions can help with getting pregnant.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. I don't think that anyone knows which position is best. And again, as long as the sperm are getting into the vagina where it's supposed to be, the sperm is modal. It goes up, it can meet the egg and the fallopian tube, which has a normal site of when the egg and the sperm meet. Then theoretically, it does not matter which position is used during intercourse.
Host: Now what about using a lubricant during sex? Can that hurt the chances of conception?
Dr. Uhler: It might, that is true. So it depends upon the lubricant. There are certain ones that are recommended that are supposed to be safe for those couples attempting pregnancy. One of them is Pre-Seed, but some of the other ones that are on the market, like popular ones, like KY those can actually be spermicidal.
Host: Wow. How about if a woman is starting menopause, that means she cannot have a baby.
Dr. Uhler: Well, again, that might make it more difficult. It depends on how far she is into menopause, but it is possible to have a baby through egg donation. That has a very high chance of success. So it depends upon how far along she is, how many eggs are remaining, what age she is, but it is possible even if the woman's in menopause to have a, to have pregnancy through egg donation.
Host: A few more left here in our list. How about age does not affect male fertility?
Dr. Uhler: I think that the, it's not as definite as in female, we know in a female that as age increases, fertility declines, there have been some studies recently looking at male fertility. And there is some point at which the age of the man is also going to have an effect on fertility. It's just not as well known and not as pronounced as in the female.
Host: Supplements can help with men with sperm issues.
Dr. Uhler: I think we always recommend a men's vitamin for antioxidants in the men. Some of our male infertility specialists have also recommended coenzyme Q10, whether it will definitively help with sperm issues we don't know, but it certainly will not hurt with the sperm issues, but we can't say we'll definitively take care of the male problem they might have.
Host: And the last one here on our list today, prescription medication cannot impact fertility.
Dr. Uhler: That is false. So many medications have side effects, which in turn can affect the sperm can affect the egg, etc. So I think always the benefits and the risk have to be weighed. So someone who has, let's say high blood pressure, they've taken medication, then that's very important, but prescription medications can affect any kind of medications can affect fertility. It's best to check with your doctor.
Host: Dr. Uhler, so many of these myths are pretty common in my opinion, but so many of them turned out to be false. I mean, what does that say for just people looking for the right education on fertility?
Dr. Uhler: I know there's so much that we can get out on social media, right? I mean, you just do a search, you can take you to all kinds of places. I mean, I think the best thing to do is probably talk to your doctor who can answer your questions from a fact medical point of view. That's probably the best source. It's hard with so many, just going to the computer gives you an instant answer right away. It's just so you can get it so fast, but you got to get the right answer. Cause otherwise it could be doing, could spend a lot of time doing something or searching something that's not worthwhile.
Host: So, I think the best thing to do is talk to a medical professional, of course. Well, thank you so much for clearing these up. Dr. Uhler. I know I learned a lot. I'm embarrassed to say today, myself. That was Dr. Meike Uhler, a physician and the managing director of the fertility centers of Illinois, please. Call (877) 324-4483 to schedule an initial consult. And if you enjoyed this podcast, find more like it in our podcast library and be sure to give us a like, and to follow if you do. This has been the Time to Talk Fertility Podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Whyte, stay safe.