Starting a family is a special and crucial decision in any couple’s life. However, it can be stressful for some due to internal or external pressure to conceive, which can lead to misinformation about infertility. For those trying to conceive, it is crucial to understand that while lifestyle choices do play a role in fertility, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Hence, a balanced and informed approach can make a meaningful difference in your journey to parenthood.
In this blog, we are going to discuss some of the most common myths surrounding lifestyle choices, their consequences or some may call them, adverse impacts on infertility.
Common Myths About Lifestyle Choices and Their Impact on Infertility
| Myth | Fact |
| You cannot get pregnant if you drink coffee. | Excessive caffeine consumption might slightly affect fertility due to disturbed acid-base balance in the body. But in fact, Moderate caffeine intake is generally safe during pregnancy planning. |
| Stress will make you infertile! | While chronic stress (environmental, personal, work-related, etc) can indeed interfere with normal hormone levels that are needed for ovulation, managing stress through stress-relief techniques like Yoga or meditation can help in fertility restoration. |
| If I am overweight, that means I cannot conceive normally? | Obesity is a medical condition that not only affects the fertility pathway but also makes individuals disease-prone. Healthy practices to lose weight helps in maintaining normal hormonal balance and hence can significantly improve the chances of conception. |
| Only Cardio exercises and Intense workout will boost the Fertility! | A very touche-yet famous myth of the millennials is that only intense and regular exercises can improve fertility. While regular physical activity is important but engaging in strenuous workouts is a myth, as it can negatively affect fertility due to compromised physical state or stress. For boosting fertility, moderate and consistent form of physical exercises are recommended. For eg.- walking, swimming, yoga etc. |
| Consumption of Alcohol is a sin, if you are trying to get Pregnant. | Like a folklore, it is believed that abstaining or not thinking of any forms of alcohol is necessary to enhance fertility and increase the chances of getting pregnant. Mild or moderate alcohol consumption is considered acceptable (given, not keeping it as a habit) as long as your Gynaecologist, otherwise suggests you to avoid it. It is a natural science that high levels of alcohol intake can affect fertility in both male and female and its answer lies in moderation. For couples trying to conceive, limiting consumption of alcohol can be a well-made choice but complete abstinence might not be a necessity. |
| Eating Paneer or curd will increase the fertility | High-protein diets, if handled properly, can do good; yet there should be balance. Large amounts of protein without corresponding carbohydrates and fats can cause hormonal imbalance. A diverse nutrient-rich and balanced diet is beneficial for fertility. |
| Vegetarianism can reduce your chances to get pregnant | Fertility is not necessarily lowered by vegan or vegetarian diets. The reproductive health would still benefit from a well planned diet with enough nutrients such as iron, calcium and vitamin B12. |
| Irregular periods are a sign of infertility. | While irregular menstrual cycles can indicate underlying problems they do not always mean infertility. Many women with irregular cycles can conceive if directed by a specialist or encouraged to follow a healthy lifestyle. |
| Women over the age of 40 years cannot get pregnant naturally. | Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress levels are all significant factors that influence fertility as much as age itself. In addition to this, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help enhance fertility and reproductive outcomes. However, fertility reduces with ageing. |
| You need to have sexual intercourse every day to get pregnant. | Frequent sexual intercourse does not increase the chances for conception necessarily. To support conception, evidence suggests about every 1-2 days sex should happen around ovulation because sperm can live in female’s reproductive tract for some days. |
Every lifestyle-affecting-fertility myth stems from a grain of truth but is often exaggerated and molded in terms and conditions. Multiple research studies that were solely conducted to assess the scientific relevance of such myths lead to one and only one answer, which is-
Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management somewhat influence fertility, but rarely in isolation. It is the overall health picture that matters most!
Rather than obsessing over groundless fertility myths, it is medically as well as scientifically advised to focus more on cultivating a healthy lifestyle for conception. A balanced diet rich in antioxidants, regular exercise, and 7-8 hours of sleep daily can optimize fertility. These healthy habits not only promote general well-being but also support reproductive health. In the words of Marie Curie,
The way of progress is neither swift nor easy.
The journey and experience of parenthood is unique to each individual. Consulting with a certified healthcare professional for personalized advice is the step one towards focusing on healthy choices, and empowering yourself on this pathway to parenthood.
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