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10 Common Infertility Myths
Infertility is rare. No other couples we know seem to have problems.
FALSE.
One in six couples experience infertility. Infertility is a
sensitive issue, and often individuals do not feel free to share
this with friends or family. You should not feel embarrassed.
Infertility is common. You as a couple can maximize your chance
of pregnancy by seeking prompt evaluation and treatment.
 We
should try to conceive for at least one full year before seeing
a physician.
FALSE. While strictly speaking,
infertility is defined as one year of unprotected intercourse
without conception, many couples should seek diagnostic evaluation
and treatment prior to this time. This includes women over age
35 and those with a history of irregular periods, fibroids,
endometriosis, pelvic adhesive disease, ectopic pregnancy or
recurrent miscarriage. Couples with a male history of surgery,
infection or trauma to the genital organs should also be evaluated
promptly.
 The
diagnostic work-up for infertility takes months and is costly.
FALSE.
Very few tests are required for both partners. Typically, the
diagnostic evaluation includes evaluation of ovulatory status,
uterine and tubal status in the female, and semen analysis for
the male. These tests can often be completed within one month
and are not expensive.
 Male
infertility is rare. Semen analysis is unnecessary unless all
problems have been ruled out in the female.
FALSE. Almost half of couples
with infertility have some degree of male factor contributing
to its diagnosis. We at RRC believe that early evaluation of
the male partner is essential for prompt diagnosis and appropriate
therapy.
 All
infertility treatment is expensive.
FALSE.
There are a range of infertility treatments available, and the
most appropriate therapy for you as a couple depends on your
history, diagnosis, and goals. Our philosophy at RRC is to help
you achieve conception as efficiently as possible. This means,
oftentimes, starting out with treatments that are inexpensive.
However, some couples, based on their histories and diagnoses,
may need more aggressive treatment from the start and may save
money in the long run by proper guidance as to which treatment
modalities are very likely to be successful.
We will need daily visits to the doctor during infertility treatment.
FALSE. Certainly, infertility treatment will involve
seeing a physician. However, most treatment modalities require
few visits to the physician, and most visits are short, enabling
you to continue your lives relatively uninterrupted.
 All
infertility treatments put us at high risk for carrying a pregnancy
with triplets, quadruplets or more. We are concerned because
we want one baby.
FALSE. RRC's goal is to help you achieve a healthy
pregnancy, both for the woman as well as the child. Therefore,
our philosophy at RRC involves treatments with high chances
of achieving pregnancy and low risk of high order multiple pregnancy.
Most treatments prescribed by RRC physicians result in singleton
pregnancies. Twins are less common. Pregnancies with a larger
number of fetuses are extremely rare at RRC because of our treatment
philosophy.
 It
takes months to get an appointment for an initial consultation.
FALSE. At RRC, most patients
can be seen within one month. We will request copies of pertinent
medical records. This will allow for a productive first visit
and rapid treatment. The most common cause of a delayed appointment
is delayed receipt of medical records.
 Lots
of women over age 40 are having babies, so female age is not
a big factor in infertility.
FALSE. Female age is one
of the major factors in determining your chances for pregnancy
success. Pregnancy rates start to decline at approximately female
age 34. Pregnancies are less common over age 40 and rare over 42.
Celebrities in their 40s who give birth often have
achieved pregnancy by doing in vitro fertilization using donor
oocytes. In light of these facts, prompt diagnostic evaluation
and treatment is in your best interest to achieve a successful
pregnancy.
 Men
with no sperm in the ejaculate or women without ovaries or a
uterus have no chance of parenting a child.
FALSE. Absence of sperm in
the ejaculate (azoospermia) can result from obstructive and
non-obstructive causes. Men who have sperm present in the testicle
can be successfully treated with current in vitro fertilization
techniques. Therapeutic donor insemination is also an option
for couples with azoospermia. Women with surgical or medical
menopause are often candidates for third party reproduction
(the use of anonymous donor oocytes). Gestational carriers can
be utilized for women with a congenitally or surgically absent
uterus.
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