Top 7 Myths About Infertility — Busted by Medigrace Fertility Specialists

Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 couples in India — yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised medical conditions in our society. Generations of misinformation, cultural narratives, and well-meaning but medically incorrect advice have created a web of myths that often delay couples from seeking timely, evidence-based treatment. At Medigrace Hospital, Nagpur, we hear these myths every day. It is time to set the record straight.

Here are the 7 most common infertility myths in India — and the facts our fertility specialists want you to know.

The Fact

This is the most pervasive and damaging myth in Indian fertility medicine. Male factor infertility is the sole or contributing cause in 40–50% of all cases. Conditions affecting sperm include:

• Oligospermia — low sperm count (below 15 million/mL)
• Asthenospermia — poor sperm motility (movement)
• Teratospermia — abnormal sperm morphology (shape)
• Azoospermia — complete absence of sperm in ejaculate
• Sperm DNA fragmentation — damage to the genetic material within sperm

A semen analysis is one of the simplest, most cost-effective fertility tests available. Both partners must be evaluated simultaneously from the very first fertility consultation. At Medigrace Hospital, we treat infertility as a couple's condition — not a woman's burden.

The Fact

Perhaps the most frustrating thing couples hear from well-intentioned relatives. While chronic, severe stress can theoretically disrupt ovulation through hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction, there is no robust clinical evidence that everyday stress causes infertility. Millions of people conceive under high-stress circumstances daily.

More importantly: if there is a medical cause for infertility — blocked tubes, azoospermia, premature ovarian insufficiency — no amount of relaxation will resolve it. Delayed evaluation while trying to "de-stress" can result in missed treatment windows, particularly as age advances. Seek a medical opinion first; stress management is a valuable complement, not a cure.

The Fact

This myth stems from the era of IVF when multiple embryos were routinely transferred to maximise success rates. Modern evidence-based practice has shifted dramatically toward Single Embryo Transfer (SET) in most cases. Twin and multiple pregnancies carry significant risks — preterm labour, low birth weight, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes — that responsible fertility specialists actively work to avoid.

At Medigrace Hospital, we follow an individualised embryo transfer strategy. For most patients under 38 with good-quality blastocysts, we recommend transferring a single embryo. Multiple pregnancy rates at our centre are in line with modern international benchmarks — significantly below historical IVF averages.

The Fact

Fertility problems affect people of all ages. Conditions like endometriosis, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), PCOS, congenital uterine anomalies, and genetic sperm disorders can and do occur in women and men in their 20s. Waiting years before seeking evaluation can mean the difference between a successful natural or low-intervention outcome and a more complex treatment pathway.

The guidelines are clear:

• Under 35: consult after 12 months of unprotected intercourse
• 35–40: consult after 6 months
• Over 40: consult immediately
• Any age with known risk factors (irregular periods, previous pelvic infections, prior surgery): consult at the start of trying

The Fact

Decades of global data, including long-term follow-up studies on hundreds of thousands of IVF-conceived children, consistently show that IVF babies have comparable health outcomes to naturally conceived children. The process of IVF — egg retrieval, fertilisation in the laboratory, embryo culture — does not cause birth defects, developmental delay, or chronic illness at higher rates than natural conception.

The small incremental risk observed in some studies is largely attributable to the underlying infertility diagnosis itself, the slightly higher rate of multiple pregnancies in earlier IVF eras, and prematurity — all factors that modern single embryo transfer practice addresses directly.

The Fact

Secondary infertility — difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy after a previous successful birth — is extremely common and clinically real. It affects approximately 1 in 8 couples trying to conceive a second or subsequent child. Causes include new-onset PCOS, endometriosis progression, uterine fibroids, age-related decline in ovarian reserve, new male factor issues, and intrauterine adhesions from previous procedures.

The fact that you had a child before does not guarantee future conception. If you have been trying for another pregnancy for 12 months (or 6 months if over 35) without success, seek a fertility consultation — secondary infertility is just as treatable as primary infertility in most cases.

The Fact

India has a rich tradition of Ayurvedic and herbal medicine, and certain lifestyle interventions (diet, exercise, stress reduction) do support reproductive health. However, there is no herbal or home remedy that can unblock fallopian tubes, restore severely depleted ovarian reserve, restore sperm production in azoospermia, or correct a chromosomal abnormality.

The danger of relying on unproven treatments is not merely ineffectiveness — it is the loss of precious time, particularly for women over 35, where every month matters for egg quality and quantity. Consult a qualified fertility specialist first, understand your diagnosis, and then complement evidence-based treatment with healthy lifestyle practices if desired.

The Bottom Line: Seek Evidence-Based Care Early

Infertility is a medical condition — not a personal failing, a spiritual deficit, or something you caused through lifestyle choices alone. It deserves the same quality of medical care as any other health condition: accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, honest counselling, and compassionate support.

At Medigrace Hospital, Nagpur, our team has guided thousands of couples through fertility challenges — many of whom arrived after years of delay caused by exactly these myths. We are here to give you accurate information, realistic expectations, and the most effective treatment available. Do not let myths decide your future.