Fertility myths: what actually affects your chances of conceiving?

Trying to conceive can feel overwhelming, especially when fertility advice online ranges from genuinely helpful to completely unhinged.

One post says stress is stopping you getting pregnant. Another says you only have one fertile day a month. Someone else blames carbs, coffee, tight boxers, or your hormones. Before long, it can feel impossible to know what actually matters.

The reality is that fertility is influenced by a mix of hormones, age, lifestyle, sperm health, ovulation, and underlying medical conditions. Some things are worth paying attention to. Others are mostly noise.

Here are 10 fertility myths doctors and fertility specialists hear all the time, and what the evidence actually says.

• Myth 1: Fertility problems are usually female
• Myth 2: Regular periods mean you are definitely fertile
• Myth 3: Male fertility does not decline with age
• Myth 4: You can only get pregnant on ovulation day
• Myth 5: Testosterone improves male fertility
• Myth 6: Stress is the reason you are not getting pregnant
• Myth 7: Fertility testing is only useful if you have been trying for years
• Myth 8: If you already have a child, fertility will not be a problem
• Myth 9: Healthy people cannot have fertility problems
• Myth 10: Fertility is only about getting pregnant
• What actually matters for fertility?

Myth 1: Fertility problems are usually female
 

One of the biggest misconceptions around fertility is that problems usually come from the female side.

In reality, male factor infertility contributes to around half of infertility cases, either alone or alongside female fertility factors.

Sperm count, motility, morphology, hormone health, lifestyle, age, and medical conditions can all affect male fertility. If you want to understand more about sperm health and what may affect it, our guide on improving male fertility and sperm quality explores this in more detail.

If you are trying to conceive, it is important to think about fertility as something that involves both partners.

Myth 2: Regular periods mean you are definitely fertile
 

Having regular periods does not always guarantee ovulation or fertility.

Some people with regular cycles may still experience:

• Ovulation problems 
• Hormone imbalances 
• Thyroid issues 
• Endometriosis 
• Reduced ovarian reserve 

Regular periods are usually a positive sign, but they do not tell the full story about reproductive health.

Hormone blood tests may help provide insight into ovulation, ovarian reserve, and reproductive hormone balance. If you would like to understand more about fertility hormones, our guide to pregnancy hormones explains how these hormones may affect reproductive health.

Myth 3: Male fertility does not decline with age
 

Female fertility decline is discussed much more openly, but male fertility changes with age too.

Although men can remain fertile for longer, research suggests age may affect:

• Sperm quality 
• Sperm DNA integrity 
• Testosterone levels 
• Time to conception 

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress, poor sleep, alcohol intake, obesity, and overall health may also affect sperm quality over time. 

Myth 4: You can only get pregnant on ovulation day
 

There is not just one magic fertile day.

Pregnancy is most likely during the fertile window, which usually includes the five days before ovulation and the day of ovulation itself.

This is because sperm can survive in the reproductive tract for several days.

Tracking ovulation, cervical mucus, cycle length, and hormone changes may help improve understanding of your fertile window, but fertility is rarely perfectly predictable from cycle to cycle.

 

Myth 5: Testosterone improves male fertility
 

This one surprises a lot of people.

While testosterone is important for male reproductive health, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can actually reduce sperm production and negatively affect fertility in some men. 

This happens because external testosterone can suppress the hormones involved in sperm production.

If you are considering testosterone therapy and may want children in the future, it is important to understand how testosterone can affect fertility and sperm production before starting treatment.

TRT specialists, Leger Clinic, explain how to protect fertility while on TRT. 

Myth 6: Stress is the reason you are not getting pregnant
 

Stress can affect sleep, hormones, libido, mental wellbeing, and overall health, but stress alone is not usually the sole cause of infertility.

Being told to just relax when trying to conceive can feel frustrating and dismissive, especially if you have been trying for a long time.

That said, looking after your mental and physical wellbeing still matters. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, stress management, and emotional support may all play an important role during your fertility journey. 

Myth 7: Fertility testing is only useful if you have been trying for years
 

Many people assume fertility testing is only relevant after years of trying to conceive.

In reality, earlier testing may sometimes be appropriate, particularly if you:

• Are over 35 
• Have irregular periods 
• Have PCOS or endometriosis 
• Have experienced recurrent miscarriage 
• Have symptoms of low testosterone 
• Have concerns about sperm quality 
• Want a better understanding of your fertility before trying to conceive 

Fertility testing may help provide insight into hormone balance, ovulation, ovarian reserve, and male reproductive health. If you are unsure where to start, our fertility testing guide explains the different options available and when they may be useful. 

Myth 8: If you already have a child, fertility will not be a problem
 

Secondary infertility, which is difficulty conceiving after previously having a child, is more common than many people realise.

Age, hormone changes, sperm health, medical conditions, lifestyle changes, and reproductive health issues can all affect fertility over time.

Previous pregnancy does not necessarily guarantee future fertility.

Myth 9: Healthy people cannot have fertility problems
 

People often assume fertility problems only affect those with obvious health concerns.

But fertility can affect people of all body types, fitness levels, and lifestyles.

Some people discover fertility issues despite:

• Exercising regularly 
• Eating well 
• Having no symptoms 
• Feeling otherwise healthy 

This is one reason fertility struggles can feel so unexpected and emotionally difficult.

Myth 10: Fertility is only about getting pregnant
 

Fertility health is also closely linked to:

• Hormone health 
• Ovulation 
• Sperm production 
• Thyroid health 
• Metabolic health 
• Long-term wellbeing 

For many people, fertility testing is not only about trying to conceive right now. It can also be part of understanding reproductive health, planning for the future, or identifying hormone imbalances earlier.

What actually matters for fertility?
 

Fertility advice online can sometimes make it feel like every small habit, symptom, or lifestyle choice is either destroying or dramatically boosting your chances of conception.

The reality is usually more nuanced.

Age, hormones, ovulation, sperm health, lifestyle, medical conditions, and overall health can all play a role in fertility, but many common myths oversimplify how conception actually works.

If you are concerned about fertility, hormone testing and fertility investigations may help provide useful insight into your reproductive health, sperm health, ovulation, and possible next steps.

If you would like to learn more, our guides to fertility, improving male fertility, fertility hormones, and increasing your chances of conception explore some of the factors that may support reproductive health in more detail.

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