Myth #1: “Young couples should have no problem with fertility”
Fact: Age is one among a variety of factors that influence the chance of pregnancy. It is true that the risk of infertility increases with age. However, young couples as susceptible to some disorders – for example, Fallopian tube obstruction and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – as are older couples.
Myth #2: “Couples who have had natural births will have no problem with fertility”
Fact: The amount and quality of eggs and sperms decrease with age, regardless of the number of prior births. Couples’ fertility can be influenced by changes in lifestyle factors such as smoking and weight gain. In other words, it is possible for couples who have had natural births before to be infertile due to other causes.
Myth #3: “Infertility is an inherited condition”
Fact: Infertility can be caused by a number of factors, one of which is genetics. If you suspect your condition to be genetic, we recommend that you seek professional medical advice, and perform a fertility test at the same time.
Myth #4: “Stress is the main cause of infertility”
Fact: According to the existing body of knowledge, stress is unlikely to be a direct cause of infertility. Stress may, however, precipitate physical conditions or bodily states (e.g. hormonal imbalance, reduction in the amount of sperm) that in turn reduce the chance of successful conception.
Myth #5: “IVF works the same for women in their 30s and for those in their 40s”
Fact: Age is the single most important factor that determines success rate of IVF treatment. IVF works better for women under the age of 35 using fresh eggs than for women over 35. While ~35% of IVF treatment for 30-year-old women result in successful pregnancies, the percentage dips by the year to ~30% for 35-year-old women.
