Fertility Myths

Myths abound when it comes to fertility and conception. It's time look at some common misperception and separate fact from fiction.

Myth: It's easy to get pregnant
Truth: For some people, getting pregnant is easy. For others, it's not.

Myth: Having sex every day will increase our chances of conceiving
Truth: This is a classic case of quality versus quantity. Having sex during the most fertile days of a woman's monthly cycle will increase your chances. Having sex every day will not. Generally, the best time to try to conceive is during the 11 – 17th days of a woman's menstrual cycle, based on a 28-day cycle. Since a man's sperm can live for 48 – 72 hours in a woman's reproductive tract, intercourse every other day during this period is recommended. A study found no difference in pregnancy rates between couples that had sex daily and those who had sex every other day.1

Myth: A woman's menstrual cycle begins when she starts spotting
Truth: A woman's menstrual flow starts on the first day of normal bleeding or full flow, not when spotting begins. If you're trying to time intercourse, identifying the first day of your reproductive cycle is critical. Being off by just a day or two can make a big difference.

Myth: A woman can't get pregnant if she doesn't have an orgasm
Truth: Conception occurs when a man's sperm fertilizes a woman's egg, regardless of whether she has an orgasm.

Myth: I can wait until I'm 40 to conceive
Truth: When to start a family is up to you. But as you make your decision, keep these basic fertility facts in mind:

  • A man's fertility drops after age 35.2
  • At 30, a healthy woman has about a 20% chance per month of conceiving.3
  • By the time a woman reaches 40, her chances drop to about 5% per month.4

Getting pregnant — at any age — is not an automatic. And as you age, it may become increasingly difficult to conceive, despite all the media stories you've heard. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after regular, unprotected intercourse after 12 months (or six months if a woman is over 35).

Myth: We've already had one child, so conceiving again will be easy
Truth: There's no guarantee. Each case is different. Many Americans experience secondary infertility, or difficulty conceiving a second or subsequent child. This problem is often caused by age-related factors.

  • 1. Wilcox AJ, Dunson D, Baird DD. The timing of the "fertile window" in the menstrual cycle: Day specific estimates from a prospective study. Br Med J. 2000;321:1259-1262.
  • 2. Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ, Sloter E, et al. The association of age and semen quality in healthy men. Hum Reprod. 2003;18(2):447-454.
  • 3. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Age and fertility: A guide for patients. Birmingham, Alabama: American Society for Reproductive Medicine; 2003.
  • 4. IBID p-3, ¶2, line 6

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Important Considerations:
Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the oligo-anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® RFF Pen is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program. Gonal-f® RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection) should only be prescribed by physicians specializing in fertility or reproductive health. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing mild to severe adverse reactions, including Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications, and multiple births. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to FSH preparations, primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction and pregnancy. Nursing women should not use Gonal-f®. Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, enlarged abdomen, and injection site disorders. For complete product details, see full prescribing information.

Important Considerations:
Women: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of ovulation and pregnancy in the anovulatory infertile patient in whom the cause of infertility is functional and not due to primary ovarian failure. Gonal-f® is also indicated for the development of multiple follicles in the ovulatory patient participating in an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) program.
Men: Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) is indicated for the induction of spermatogenesis in men with primary and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in whom the cause of infertility is not due to primary testicular failure. Gonal-f® (follitropin alfa for injection) should only be prescribed by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with infertility problems and their management. Gonal-f® is a potent gonadotropic substance capable of causing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) in women with or without pulmonary or vascular complications. Gonal-f® is contraindicated in women and men who exhibit prior hypersensitivity to recombinant FSH preparations or one of their excipients, high levels of FSH indicating primary gonadal failure, uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal dysfunction, sex hormone dependent tumors of the reproductive tract and accessory organs, and an organic intracranial lesion such as a pituitary tumor; and in women who exhibit abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin, ovarian cyst or enlargement of undetermined origin and pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Gonal-f®. The most common side effects in patients using Gonal-f® include headache, ovarian cysts, nausea and upper respiratory infections in women and in men, acne, breast pain and growth, and fatigue. Injection site reactions were also reported. Reports of multiple births have been associated with Gonal-f® treatment. For complete product details, see the full prescribing information.

For complete product details, please read the Prescribing Information offered below.


© EMD Serono, Inc. CIM Last Update 2008-09-16
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