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Many people think that infertility is mostly a woman’s problem — one that’s frequently caused by stress, irregular periods, or taking the pill. We’re here to set the record straight on common misconceptions surrounding female infertility.
You and your partner have been trying to conceive for a while. You’re even sure to time intercourse during your prime fertility window around monthly ovulation. But after several negative pregnancy tests, you’re wondering if you should be worried.
Female infertility — the inability to get pregnant after having unprotected intercourse for 12 months, or 6 months after the age of 35 — can be a sensitive problem that often feels highly personal. In reality, it’s exceptionally common and frequently treatable.
June is Infertility Awareness Month. For our women’s wellness team at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology in Amarillo, Texas, it’s the perfect time to debunk some of the most tenacious misconceptions surrounding fertility struggles.
1. Infertility is mainly a woman’s issue
Fact: Fertility problems affect women and men equally: Roughly one-third of infertility cases are due to female factors, one-third are due to male factors, and the remaining third stems from a combination of both partners or unknown causes.
2. Irregular periods can cause infertility
Fact: Irregular menstrual cycles aren’t a direct cause of infertility, but they can be a key indicator of underlying hormonal or ovulatory issues that make it harder to get pregnant.
In fact, ovulation disorders are the leading cause of female infertility. Conditions like anovulation (irregular egg release) and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) often interfere with normal ovulation, but they don’t always cause irregular periods.
3. Stress can make a woman infertile
Fact: Chronically high stress levels can have a major negative impact on your overall health and wellness, including your fertility. It’s not, however, a direct, standalone cause of infertility.
Infertility is a diagnosed medical condition that often stems from older age (lower egg quantity and quality), ovulation disorders, gynecological abnormalities, or sperm issues. While none of these can be resolved through relaxation, stress management can support the effectiveness of infertility treatment.
4. Hormonal birth control can leave you infertile
Fact: Using any hormonal birth control method — whether it’s the pill, the patch, the shot, the vaginal ring, or a hormonal IUD — doesn’t affect long-term fertility. It may take a few months for your menstrual cycle to regulate after discontinuing a hormonal contraceptive method, but your natural fertility is restored quickly.
It’s possible to become pregnant within days after discontinuing the pill, even if it takes up to a year for your cycle to fully regulate. With other hormonal methods, like the birth control shot, it may take a few months to conceive.
5. A previous pregnancy means you can’t be infertile
Fact: Having a child doesn’t guarantee continuing fertility. Achieving an initial pregnancy is a good predictor of future success, but reproductive capabilities can shift over time.
After a successful natural pregnancy and birth, some couples experience secondary infertility, or difficulty conceiving or carrying a subsequent pregnancy to term.
6. Staying healthy keeps your eggs “young”
Fact: While healthy eating patterns, regular exercise, and weight control support overall health, your eggs generally don’t reflect your healthy lifestyle (apart from abstaining from smoking).
A woman’s age is the single largest determinant of egg quantity and quality. While later pregnancy is possible, a meaningful decline in egg quality and quantity — and fertility — starts accelerating around the age of 35.
7. Most women can’t get pregnant after age 35
Fact: Fertility does naturally decline as women age, largely due to a decrease in egg quality and quantity. Still, many women conceive naturally in their late thirties and even early forties.
Reproductive medicine interventions, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), have also significantly improved success rates for women who are struggling to conceive after 35.
8. You should try for a year before seeking help
Fact: Standard guidance advises couples to try to conceive for one year before seeking an infertility evaluation. But you should actually seek specialist care after six months of trying if you’re over the age of 35, or right away if you’re over 40 and want to get pregnant.
Seek specialist care promptly if you have a condition that could interfere with a successful pregnancy, such as irregular periods, endometriosis, or a history of miscarriages.
Schedule a fertility evaluation
The bottom line? Female infertility is often misunderstood, leading to unnecessary stress and delayed evaluation. Infertility isn’t just a female issue; age isn’t the only affecting factor, and a healthy lifestyle can’t overcome biological clocks or underlying conditions.
Are you struggling to conceive? To get a clear picture of your reproductive health, both you and your partner should undergo a fertility evaluation. Our team can help you get started with a comprehensive gynecological exam with ultrasound imaging and hormone testing.
Call 806-359-5468 to schedule an appointment at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology and get started on a path toward individualized fertility care today.