In today’s digital age, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become powerful tools for sharing information. Unfortunately, not all the information circulating is accurate, especially regarding complex medical topics such as infertility. To alleviate any fears, false hope, and general confusion created on social media, Dr. Megan Sax is tackling myths and misconceptions about infertility and treatments.
Myth 1: You Don’t Need to See a Doctor Because You Can Treat Infertility with Supplements, Diet, and Lifestyle Changes Alone
A healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and certain supplements can support reproductive health, but they do not address the underlying causes of true infertility. Infertility is a complex condition that can result from a variety of factors, including but not limited to hormonal imbalances, structural issues, and genetic conditions.
Lifestyle changes may improve overall health and increase the chances of conception, but they are not a replacement for medical interventions like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) when these are needed. Relying solely on diet and supplements can delay more effective treatments and potentially reduce the chance of successful conception.
Myth 2: Fertility Medications Exacerbate Hormonal Imbalance
One prevalent myth is that medications used during treatments like IUI and IVF exacerbate hormonal imbalances. In reality, fertility medications are designed to help regulate and optimize your hormonal levels to create a favorable environment for conception. While some side effects are possible, they are usually temporary and manageable. These medications are carefully monitored by fertility specialists to ensure they are working effectively without causing additional hormonal issues.
Myth 3: Genetic Testing Is Used to Create Designer Babies
Another misconception is that genetic testing in IVF is used to create designer babies with selected traits like gender, eye color, intelligence, or athletic ability. While it’s true that embryos can be biopsied for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) following embryo development to look for aneuploidy (an abnormal amount of genetic material), sex of the embryos, and/or genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia (called PGT for monogenic disorders), genetic testing of embryos for physical traits or for risk of chronic disease has not been well-established. PGT for aneuploidy or monogenic disorders may help identify embryos that are more likely to achieve a healthy pregnancy in certain patient populations.
Myth 4: IVF Medications Can Cause Menopause
Since a person is born with all of the eggs they will release (ovulate) throughout the course of their lifetime, some people mistakenly believe that the hormonal medications used in IVF can induce early menopause by causing you to release more eggs than you would in a normal cycle. Fortunately, this is not true. During a menstrual cycle, a woman’s reproductive system recruits a group of eggs ranging from a few to many, based on a woman’s age and ovarian reserve, however usually only one to two will mature into a viable egg that can be fertilized. The medications used in IVF are designed to temporarily stimulate the ovaries to allow many eggs to develop and mature that would have otherwise been lost or degenerated during the cycle.
Although symptoms of menopause usually begin when there are 1,000 to 2,000 eggs remaining in the ovaries, IVF medications do not impact the remaining number of eggs in the ovaries in a way that would accelerate the onset of menopause. After IVF treatment has concluded, hormonal levels will return to their natural state, and menstrual cycles will continue as before.
Myth 5: It is easy to naturally get pregnant after 40
Social media often highlights stories of women successfully conceiving after 40, creating a misleading narrative that these cases are common. While it is certainly possible to conceive naturally or with medical assistance after the age of 40, it is generally more challenging due to a decline in egg quality and quantity. After 40, the chance of conceiving each month may be less than 5% with the risk of miscarriage approaching 40% at age 40 and 80% at age 45. Fertility treatments can improve the chances of conceiving and delivering a healthy baby, but it’s essential to recognize that age remains a significant factor in reproductive success. Consulting a fertility specialist sooner rather than later can help patients achieve prompt treatment and understand individualized options to start a family or preserve fertility.
How to Get Credible Information About Infertility
In navigating the maze of information available on social media, it’s crucial to differentiate between anecdotal stories and evidence-based data. When in doubt, always turn to reputable resources such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), or a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist (REI) who has completed board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology and subspecialized in REI.
By debunking myths such as these, we can pave the way for a more informed and supportive community for those navigating the challenging journey of infertility. After all, knowledge is power, and accurate information is the best tool you have in making informed decisions about your reproductive health.
Medical contribution by Megan Sax, M.D.
Megan Sax, M.D. is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She earned her medical degree at Rush Medical College, followed by an OBGYN residency at the University of Cincinnati where she stayed to complete a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Sax is dedicated to fostering an environment where informed decisions pave the way to patients realizing dreams of parenthood, embodying her belief in the power of knowledge and empathy in the journey toward fertility.
