By Dr. John Preston Parry
How often do aspiring mothers hear, “Oh, you’ll get pregnant quickly if you just relax or have a glass of wine?” How often are they subjected to advice like “try hips in the air,” take Robitussin, have him wear boxers instead of briefs or eat salty McDonald’s French fries?
Here’s the truth: taking Geritol won’t fix a guy’s sperm count. Going on vacation won’t correct ovarian failure. Pineapple core won’t open blocked tubes. Ovulation predictor kits and basal-body-temperature charting won’t erase fibroids. Consider that if a 30-year-old woman hasn’t used contraception over 18 months (never mind deliberately trying) without becoming pregnant, the odds are 10 to 1 against conceiving in the next few years. Getting advice from other couples who struggled to conceive, thinking that makes them an expert on fertility, is sort of like saying having a heart makes you a cardiologist.
Let’s separate fact from myth when it comes to infertility:
NOT AS COMPLICATED AS YOU THINK
Despite our tendency to overcomplicate it, fertility usually is simple. A lot of conception comes down to sperm, eggs, open tubes and a healthy uterus. With a semen analysis for the man and ultrasound combined with office hysteroscopy for the woman, most of the main factors causing fertility problems can be identified in a single office visit. So many couples spend months and even years wondering whether they will get pregnant in a month when their odds were lower than they realized because of reasons that could be easily identified and potentially fixed.
The top thing couples mistakenly try to fix on their own is timing (ovulation predictor kits, etc.), when sperm typically last three-plus days. If a couple has relations twice a week (e.g. Wednesday, Saturday), there is almost always good quality sperm ready and waiting for an egg to release, normally making precise timing irrelevant.
THE REALITY OF MEDICATIONS
A related myth is that clomid (clomiphene) or femara (letrozole) will shift odds radically. These medications can make a huge difference if a woman is not having regular cycles; going from zero eggs in a month to one greatly improves their chances. But for women who are mostly regular, how much did getting a second egg increase those odds?
The most cost-effective approach for meaningfully accelerating fertility is usually oral medication with insemination. Getting two-to-three times the usual eggs in a month, then placing sperm directly in the reproductive tract (a 50-fold boost!), can be the equivalent of a year of trying naturally in one month. This is a lot faster than the old-fashioned way and is particularly important for women who are running lower on eggs or have endometriosis that is getting worse with every menstrual cycle.
DON’T STRESS
Ultimately—a lot can be done for fertility — usually affordably and without in-vitro fertilization. Don’t put stress on yourself and your relationship by being inefficient in trying to grow your family. Know that there are people who care deeply about you and want you to have the family of your dreams. We hope 2025 is your best year yet!
Struggling with infertility? You’re not alone
National Infertility Awareness Week is April 20-26
If you’re having trouble conceiving, it’s easy to feel lonely in your struggle. However, infertility is a common problem that affects millions worldwide. National Infertility Awareness Week, observed this year from April 20-26, aims to raise awareness, advocate for policies and support and provide a platform for individuals and families affected by infertility to share their experiences and connect with others.
Here are some key facts to consider:
- According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 (19%) married women aged 15-49 with no prior births struggle to conceive after one year of trying.
- About 33% of infertility cases are due to female reproductive issues, while another 33% are due to male factors. The rest involve both partners or remain unexplained.
- A woman’s fertility starts to decline in her early 30s, with a more significant drop after age 35. By age 40, the chances of natural conception per cycle decrease to about 5%.
- In the U.S., about 2% of annual births result from assisted-reproductive-technology treatments like in vitro fertilization. The success rate varies based on age, with a 30-50% success rate for women under 35, dropping to 5-10% for women over 40.
For more information and resources, visit the National Infertility Awareness Week website: infertilityawareness.org.