3 Busted Myths About Infertility

You’ve dreamt of starting a family for a while now, but you’ve been struggling to get pregnant for months (maybe even years). It’s hard not to doubt, self-diagnose, and search for answers from anyone who will listen. 

However, looking for guidance on infertility from your friends and family or “experts” online can leave you more confused and discouraged than when you started. 

Infertility is a difficult, overwhelming process — don’t go just anywhere for help. Dr. Joseph Roofeh has experience with infertility and understands the toll infertility can take, especially when it feels like you’re up against a mountain of misinformation.

Here, we shed some light on three of the most common infertility myths our patients encounter.

Myth #1: Infertility is always the woman’s fault

This couldn’t be farther from the truth, but it’s an easy myth to believe, especially for women. The truth is that infertility affects men and women equally. 

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, male factor infertility accounts for nearly 20% of infertility cases. In comparison, approximately 30-40% are due to female factors, and the remaining 40% are due to a combination of male and female factors or are unexplained.

Neither men nor women are immune to the underlying health conditions and structural and biological abnormalities that often impede fertility, and it’s not always one partner’s fault. Dr. Roofeh and our team can help both you and your partner determine what’s at play and help you take steps forward in your family planning. 

Myth #2: Infertility is always caused by something you did

Despite what your friends, family, and favorite influencers often like to think, infertility is rarely caused by something you did (or didn’t do). 

It’s true that certain lifestyle factors can impact fertility, such as smoking, excessive drinking, substance misuse, and being overweight or underweight; however, many other causes of infertility are far beyond your control.

For instance, a medical condition like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make getting pregnant difficult. Certain medications or treatments like chemotherapy are other culprits behind fertility. 

Your age is also a major factor in infertility, as your fertility declines significantly after age of 35.

Myth #3: Just relax — you’ll get pregnant eventually

This is perhaps the most frustrating myth of all. While stress can certainly affect your overall health and well-being and affect your pregnancy journey in its earliest stages, it’s not necessarily a direct cause of infertility. Infertility is a medical condition that often requires medical intervention to treat.

Now what?

If you are struggling with infertility, it’s important to work with someone who has lots of experience with the issue, such as Dr. Roofeh. He has years of experience walking alongside people on their fertility journeys and can help you determine the underlying causes of your infertility. He works closely with you and your partner to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. 

We begin with an infertility evaluation, during which you receive attentive, compassionate, patient-centered care. You discuss your gynecological history, family history, and menstrual cycles with Dr. Roofeh to give him an understanding of the root cause. 

We may conduct a physical and/or pelvic exam and run routine lab work to evaluate your hormone levels. An ultrasound test can also help us determine a problem with your ovaries. If appropriate, we can also recommend that your partner undergo infertility testing to check sperm health. 

We offer various treatment options depending on what’s behind your struggles to get pregnant. If you have underlying gynecological issues, we begin by addressing that specific health condition. Dr. Roofeh is a skilled robotic surgeon and can use da Vinici® robotic surgery to address structural abnormalities. 

If your case of infertility is unknown, we move forward with other treatments and therapies, including medication, ovulation induction, or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Infertility is a complex and often challenging journey, but not all hope is lost — and knowing the truth about infertility is the first step in getting the help you need. 

If you or your partner is struggling with infertility, don’t hesitate to call our office or use our online booking tool to schedule an infertility consultation at our Century City, Los Angeles, office today.