I’m a fertility doctor – these are the 5 biggest myths about getting pregnant

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Fertility has been thrust into the highlight over current years.

With a spike in each the variety of individuals ready till later in life to begin a household and people affected by fertility issues, resulting in a surge in curiosity on conceiving.

However recommendation like mendacity down after intercourse to extend your probabilities and myths that it’s inconceivable to get pregnant whereas breastfeeding could make it exhausting to separate reality from fiction.

Right here, MailOnline bust some frequent misconceptions about getting pregnant with the assistance of fertility specialists. 

Advice like lying down after sex to increase your chances and myths that it is impossible to get pregnant while breastfeeding can make it hard to separate fact from fiction

Recommendation like mendacity down after intercourse to extend your probabilities and myths that it’s inconceivable to get pregnant whereas breastfeeding could make it exhausting to separate reality from fiction

You may solely conceive on two days of your cycle

That ladies can solely fall pregnant two days a month is a standard false impression.

It’s possible based mostly on the truth that girls are at their most fertile for 2 days every month. 

However a girls’s fertile window lasts for round six days — the 5 days main as much as ovulation and the day of.

Ovulation is when an ovary releases an egg into your fallopian tube. 

If sperm fertilises the egg on this interval, conception happens and the fertilised eggs attaches to the liner of the uterus — which is named implantation. 

Whereas every egg solely survives 12 to 24 hours after ovulation, the fertile window is for much longer due to how lengthy sperm can stay, says Mr Tim Bracewell-Milnes, a guide gynaecologist on the Lister Fertility Clinic in London.

‘Sperm can survive within the physique for as much as seven days after you have got intercourse, which implies you possibly can grow to be pregnant at any level throughout your cycle in case you have intercourse with out contraception,’ says Jenny Saft CEO and co-founder of fertility advantages firm Apryl.

She added: ‘Having mentioned that, there are round six days per cycle when girls are at their most fertile: this consists of the day that you simply ovulate, and the 5 days main as much as it.’

Mr Bracewell-Milnes mentioned: ‘The standard recommendation for couple attempting to conceive was subsequently that in case you have intercourse two to 3 occasions per week untimed to your cycle, there ought to all the time be sufficient sperm to fertilize the egg. 

‘Nowadays with the arrival of apps a lot of girls are monitoring their cycles, and could have intercourse extra frequently within the run as much as once they ovulate.’

The fertile window is much wider than just two days because sperm can live for longer in the woman's body, it can be up to a week

The fertile window is much wider than just two days because sperm can live for longer in the woman's body, it can be up to a week

The fertile window is far wider than simply two days as a result of sperm can stay for longer within the girl’s physique, it may be as much as every week

Stress can cease you from getting pregnant 

Stress can have many destructive results on the physique, from disrupting sleep to rising the chance of coronary heart assaults and strokes. 

However specialists say it’s a fable that it stops you getting pregnant. 

Though people who find themselves struggling to conceive may expertise increased ranges of stress, it’s not identified if stress and infertility are immediately linked, Ms Saft explains.

Mr Bracewell-Milnes mentioned: ‘The stress hormone cortisol has many destructive implications on the physique, and should properly have a destructive affect on conception.

‘Nonetheless, there isn’t a good proof to show this.’

That mentioned, excessive ranges of stress could cause durations to cease, or to your menstrual cycle to grow to be longer or shorter. 

It is because the stress hormone cortisol interferes with reproductive hormone ranges.

‘Nonetheless, in case you are burdened however nonetheless having common cycles, then it’s best to nonetheless have a great likelihood of conceiving,’ says Mr Bracewell-Milnes.

Ladies can’t get pregnant whereas breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding can cease ovulation — stopping the ovary from releasing an egg, which should happen in an effort to fall pregnant.

Research recommend it will probably act as a contraceptive if a brand new mom is breastfeeding not less than each 4 hours throughout the day and each six hours at night time, is just not having durations and their child is beneath six months. 

Nonetheless, specialists urge towards counting on it as a way of contraception.

Mr Bracewell-Milnes mentioned: ‘Breastfeeding will forestall lots of girls from having common cycles and ovulating and they’re going to subsequently battle to conceive.

‘Nonetheless, spontaneous cycles typically resume.’

He added: ‘It’s subsequently crucial to make use of contraception whereas breastfeeding, such because the mini-pill. 

‘This can haven’t any affect on the manufacturing of breast milk however will cease you from getting pregnant.’

Whereas girls can fall pregnant inside simply three weeks of giving start, well being chiefs suggest ready not less than 18 months to make sure the physique has time to recuperate.

Doctors say you can even get pregnant as early as three weeks after the birth of the baby, even if you are breastfeeding

Doctors say you can even get pregnant as early as three weeks after the birth of the baby, even if you are breastfeeding

Docs say you possibly can even get pregnant as early as three weeks after the start of the infant, even in case you are breastfeeding

It’s best to lie flat after intercourse when attempting to conceive

It might make sense that mendacity down after intercourse will draw the sperm in direction of the cervix.

Nonetheless, specialists say that the jury is out on whether or not the act boosts the percentages of getting pregnant. 

Sandy Christiansen, embryologist and fertility coach at London-based Bea Fertility, mentioned: ‘Research have been carried out which have examined whether or not mendacity flat after synthetic insemination makes a distinction to conception charges.

‘While some research recommend that mendacity flat for quarter-hour can enhance your probabilities of being pregnant, others recommend that it makes no distinction in any respect.’

The identical research have been additionally carried out on girls who went by means of intrauterine insemination, which entails immediately inserting sperm into a lady’s womb.

They have been requested to both lay down or transfer round for quarter-hour instantly afterwards.

However there was no conclusive proof to find out whether or not mendacity in your again after common intercourse makes a distinction to being pregnant charges, in line with Ms Christiansen.

Forty per cent of those that moved round fell pregnant, in comparison with 32 per cent of those that stayed horizontal. 

She mentioned: ‘Mendacity flat received’t do you any hurt, but it surely received’t essentially assist both, so it’s actually as much as you.’

Orgasm will increase your probabilities of being pregnant 

It received’t damage your probabilities of getting pregnant. 

However having an orgasm received’t enhance your probabilities of getting knocked up both.

‘There aren’t any scientific research to assist this declare,’ says Ms Christiansen. 

She mentioned: ‘Some specialists say that it is smart that the contractions that occur within the uterus whenever you orgasm may assist transfer the sperm alongside to the egg.

‘[But] it’s extremely exhausting to review this, so there’s little proof to show that that is the case.’

Consultants say that worrying about it received’t make it any higher. 

Ms Christiansen mentioned: ‘What’s clear is that worrying about reaching orgasm whenever you’re attempting to conceive could make having intercourse extra nerve-racking — and fewer pleasing.

‘What’s extra vital for rising your probabilities of being pregnant is that you’ve got intercourse if you find yourself at your most fertile.’

Supply: | This text initially belongs to Dailymail.co.uk


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