10 Common Fertility Myths Busted!

Although women have been conceiving babies since the beginning of time, false presumptions and myths about fertility abound. In a 15-question survey concerning basic fertility facts conducted by the American Fertility Association, only one out of 12,382 respondents answered all of the questions correctly! Just one!

What causes so many misconceptions about conception? Some are old wives' tales, others just hearsay or distorted science. They've either been around so long or they fit well enough into anecdotal experience that they aren't questioned as they should be. What it comes down to is that a lot of people have the wrong idea about humans' reproductive systems and how they work.

One of the most common myths about fertility—that being in good health means conception is more likely—is believed by many women, according to Dr. M. Singh, a reproductive endocrinologist at the William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. "They feel that as long as they take care of themselves by eating properly and exercising, that fertility will not decline," says Dr. Singh. Yet this simply is not the case. Fertility declines as we age, regardless of health—and even though not smoking extends fertility, it does not prevent a decline altogether.

We've compiled some of the most common fertility myths and paired them up with the facts to set the record straight.