When it comes to infertility, there are so many misconceptions out there about what it means and what it looks like. For example, many people just assume that it’s a state of mind and not a physical problem. Or that men can never be the infertile ones. When it comes to these myths, they are not only not true, but they are detrimental to those couples who are actually faced with infertility. Make sure to keep reading down below if you have misconceptions about infertility and we’ll bust up these myths for you.
1. It’s Super Easy for Women to Get Pregnant
One of the first myths that we need to bust is the one that states that all women can get pregnant with the same ease. However, that’s not true at all. Sure, there are many people out there who have no problem whatsoever in getting pregnant and everything is just fine. However, if we go through the infertility fact sheet, it is estimated that 1 in 10 couples have some kind of infertility problems when they are trying to get pregnant. That’s an incredibly large number of people who have problems based on medical conditions or other factors. For example, as you get older, into your 30s or 40s, your chances of having a baby on the first go decrease dramatically. Other genetics conditions can affect those chances as well, so it’s definitely not true that every single woman can get pregnant with ease.
2. Men Never Have Infertility Problems
When it comes to the next myth, this is one that’s pretty pervasive. Many people have this misconception that only women have the infertility problems in a relationship. However, it’s estimated that men have an equal share of infertility problems when compared with women. A study proves that fertility can reduce with lifestyle as well, for instance, excess use of laptops can damage male fertility. Around 35 percent of both sexes have problems, while 20 percent goes to both members of the couple having problems. The rest of the percentage points go towards unknown causes. When infertility problems are blamed solely on the women, this causes lots of problems in relationships and society as a whole.
3. Infertility Is Not a Physical Problem, But Rather a Psychological One
The next big myth that has got to be busted is the one that says that infertility is pretty much all in your head. Many well-meaning friends and family members will tell infertile couples that they just have to stop thinking about it so much and they will find pregnancy. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are innate physical problems in infertile newly-wed couples that cause them not to be able to have a baby. These can most of the times be traced back whenever you go to a doctor’s appointment, so it’s definitely not all in your head.
4. Couples Can Work Hard and Get a Baby Eventually
No matter how hard a couple works at getting pregnant, there is still the chance that it’s just not possible. Even though there are plenty of infertility treatments available, there is still the chance that your physical problems will always block you from having a baby on your own. This misconception that you just have to keep working hard and you’ll find your way eventually could lead to years of trying and trying without any success. If your physical problems keep preventing you from having a baby, then it’s important to look at the other options you have, like adoption or surrogacy.
5. When A Couple Adopts a Child, The Woman Is Going to Get Pregnant Right Away
When it comes to adoption, there are whole lot of myths flying around about what it means to adopt a baby. One of the biggest ones is that adoption leads to pregnancy right after the child enters the family. However, that’s definitely not true as only 5% of those who adopt a baby see pregnancy happen afterwards. Many people use this myth as a way to degrade on adoption as a legitimate way to raise a baby. However, for many fertile and infertile couples, adoption is an amazing way to make an impact on the world and help those children who need a loving home desperately.
6. Husbands Leave Their Wives More Times Than Not When They Are Infertile
Another big myth that’s pretty pervasive is the one that states that husbands normally leave their wives when they discover that they can’t have a baby together. However, there is no data to suggest this. First of all, as we mentioned before, infertility does not have a gender. There are equal men and women in the world who deal with infertility. Second of all, sure, infertility can be a pretty stressful time for couples. However, many couples show that they can get through to the other side unscathed if they work together. Oftentimes, when couples go through infertility, they find that they are stronger than they ever thought.
7. Infertile Couples Are Never Going to Feel Fulfilled
Many people think that once a couple finds out that they are infertile, they automatically will never have a life purpose and will never fell fulfilled. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of ways that infertile couples can feel happier in life without having a baby – that’s not the whole point of being in a relationship of course! Infertile couples, can opt for surrogacy or adoption. A little research about what intended parents want to know will serve them right. They might even find purpose by starting their own infertility clinic, volunteering in the community, or traveling the world together to find the perfect child to adopt who’s in need.
8. Adoption Is Not as Good as Having Your Own Baby
Many people have a huge misconception that adoption is a lesser form of having a baby. A lot of people see adoption as the “easy way out” of having your own baby. However, adoption is a wonderful process that pairs those children who are in need around the world with a loving family that they so desperately need. There are hundreds of thousands of children in the foster care system around the world who are in need of a home. Why shouldn’t infertile couples see this as an amazing way to start a family and help out a child who really needs help?
Each of these myths need to be busted right away. Hopefully, you have stopped believing these myths by now and you can tell others around you that they aren’t true!
