There are a wide variety of myths about fertility and the process of conception. These ideas are centered around diet, menstruation, the timing of intercourse, and more. Many times, these myths rely on personal experiences or now defunct studies rather than current, reliable data.

This misinformation can lead to many questions. Are light periods a sign of infertility? Does sea moss help with fertility? What about maca root? This article will explore the science behind common questions and myths.

Myth #1: It Is Possible to Control the Sex of the Baby

It is a common myth that one can choose the sex of their child by taking different approaches to the process of conception. The majority of these assertions rely on older studies that do not necessarily support these claims.

For example, there is a myth that a woman is more likely to have a boy if she eats an excess of potassium. This idea comes from a 2008 study. It found that women who ate a wider variety of nutrients, including potassium, were slightly more likely to have sons (Mathews et al., 2008). In truth, there was a 5% difference in the number of women who had a boy in the study, which is not significant enough to draw any conclusions.

As another example, there is a misconception that the timing of sex as it relates to ovulation can determine gender. According to this theory, sex closer to ovulation is more likely to produce a boy because the Y-chromosome sperm is faster and lighter and reaches the egg first. Meanwhile, having sex further from the time of ovulation is more likely to produce a girl, as the X-chromosome sperm is stronger and can outlast Y-chromosome sperm (Shettles, 1960).

This research dates back to the 1960s and depends on phase-contrast microscopy. Newer technology shows us that X sperm and Y sperm have no differences in structure and do not swim at different speeds (Rahman & Pang, 2020). In short, though there is some research that supports this myth, it is outdated and unreliable.

One simply cannot control their baby’s sex unless they go through IVF. In that case, their doctor needs to test the embryos for gender and then transfer the gender of their choice.

Myth #2: Male Fertility Decreases With Frequent Ejaculation

Another common myth poses the idea that sperm viability decreases when men ejaculate more often. This theory relies on data from research dating back to 1991. In the study, researchers reviewed sperm samples from 21 produced over several days. While the mean density of the samples on the first day was 64.4 million sperm per milliliter, on the third day that dropped to 52.2 million per milliliter. By the 5th day, it was at 50.7 million per milliliter. The volume of the semen also decreased (Nnatu et al.).

There are a few problems with this study. First, it is quite old. When studies are over ten years old, they lack the use of recent developments in science and technology. Next, the sample size is not big enough to draw significant conclusions - just 21 participants. That does not allow for a wide range of results and therefore is not conducive for the findings to apply to a larger population.

Putting the issues of the study aside, it still does not prove that frequent ejaculation affects sperm viability. The study found no significant difference in the concentrations or motility of the semen. In other words, the concentration of sperm by volume remained consistent and the motility of the sperm, or its ability to move toward the egg, remained intact.

Myth #3: Light Periods and Fertility

Misinformation about periods and fertility is common. The menstrual cycle can provide some information, but it is just one health indicator of many. Irregularities in the period (whether it is light, heavy, long, or short) can point to an overactive thyroid, issues with stress, changes in weight, uterine scar tissue, and more.

Are light periods a sign of infertility? Not necessarily, though some studies do link lighter or shorter cycles with differences in hormones (Mumford et al., 2012). It is best for women to speak with their doctors and track their cycles to get a better understanding of ovulation rather than just considering the lightness or heaviness of their periods.

Myth #4: It Is Possible to Speed Up Ovulation

Some myths offer suggestions on how to speed up ovulation. Unfortunately, this is not actually possible. The female body has a menstrual cycle and that process allows for one ovulation per cycle. There is no way to rush that.

With that said, it is possible to balance a woman’s hormones via diet, regular exercise, and stress management (Gaskins & Chavarro, 2018). These tactics can increase her odds of ovulation when it is that time of the month.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Myth #5: One Can Improve Fertility With Diet

Food is one of the most common themes in fertility myths. There are many foods that supposedly improve fertility, including ginger, sea moss, maca root, and more. This is what the science says about the most popular fertility-related foods.

Maca Root

There is not enough research on maca to definitively say that maca aids fertility. However, there are animal studies that suggest that it can reduce depression, which could aid in fertility (Ai et al., 2014). Still, researchers must do more testing to determine whether these results will apply to humans.

Additionally, a 2016 systematic review of three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) found that maca may improve the quality of semen, including sperm mobility, in both healthy and infertile men (Lee et al., 2016). Although RCTs, like those included in this review, are the most scientifically rigorous method of testing we have, the total number of studies is not enough to prove this idea. There is a need for more extensive studies before providing a definitive answer on maca root.

Ginger

Ginger does not directly improve fertility, but it may improve other issues that can impact one’s ability to conceive. It can lower inflammation and lower blood pressure - both of which can increase when a person is feeling stressed (Anh et al., 2020). Since stress can affect one’s ability to conceive, ginger could be useful in a roundabout way.

Sea Moss

Sea moss itself is not proven to aid fertility. However, it does contain nutrients that can benefit conception. It has high levels of folate which, according to one study, may aid in conception by increasing progesterone levels. It may also lower the risk of anovulation, which occurs when an egg does not release from the ovaries during the menstrual cycle (Gaskins et al., 2012).

In Conclusion

Although fertility myths may sound intriguing, they are typically misleading. It is best for people who are trying to conceive to instead focus on overall wellness. This includes consuming a healthy diet, lowering stress levels, and getting regular exercise.

Ai, Z., Cheng, A.-F., Yu, Y.-T., Yu, L.-J., & Jin, W. (2014, May 1). Antidepressant-like behavioral, anatomical, and biochemical effects of petroleum ether extract from maca (lepidium meyenii) in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Journal of medicinal food. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025608/
Anh, N. H., Kim, S. J., Long, N. P., Min, J. E., Yoon, Y. C., Lee, E. G., Kim, M., Kim, T. J., Yang, Y. Y., Son, E. Y., Yoon, S. J., Diem, N. C., Kim, H. M., & Kwon, S. W. (2020, January 6). Ginger on human health: A comprehensive systematic review of 109 randomized controlled trials. Nutrients. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
Gaskins, A. J., & Chavarro, J. E. C. (2018, April). Diet and fertility: A review. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28844822/
Gaskins, A. J., Mumford, S. L., Chavarro, J. E., Zhang, C., Pollack, A. Z., Wactawski-Wende, J., Perkins, N. J., & Schisterman, E. F. (2012). The impact of dietary folate intake on reproductive function in premenopausal women: A prospective cohort study. PLOS ONE. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0046276
Lee, M. S., Lee, H. W., You, S., & Ha, K.-T. (2016, October). The use of maca (lepidium meyenii) to improve semen quality: A systematic review. Maturitas. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27621241/
Mathews, F., Johnson, P. J., & Neil, A. (2008, July 22). You are what your mother eats: Evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing fetal sex in humans. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2602810/
Mumford, S. L., Steiner, A. Z., Pollack, A. Z., Perkins, N. J., Filiberto, A. C., Albert, P. S., Mattison, D. R., Wactawski-Wende, J., & Schisterman, E. F. (2012, October). The utility of menstrual cycle length as an indicator of cumulative hormonal exposure. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3674299/
Nnatu, S. N., Giwa-Osagie, O. F., & Essien, E. E. (n.d.). Effect of repeated semen ejaculation on sperm quality. Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2054949/#:~:text=Abstract,52.2%20and%2050.7%20millilitre%20respectively.
Rahman, M. S., & Pang, M.-G. (2020, January 21). New biological insights on X and Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32039204/
Shettles, L. B. (1960). Nuclear morphology of human spermatozoa. Nature. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14445926/

5 Top Myths About Trying to Conceive