While you’re learning more about women’s fertility, it’s important that you recognize facts from myths. There exist many female fertility myths that are easy to believe. Here are some of the common ones:

Myth: Your egg has only one chance at conception.

Truth: An egg is capable of being fertilized multiple times before it is released from the ovary and expelled from the body. The number of eggs available for fertilization depends on how long a woman has been menstruating and whether she has had any surgeries that affect her fertility. If a woman has had ovarian surgery or radiation therapy after menarche (the first period), there may be fewer eggs remaining for fertilization than if she hadn’t had those procedures done at all.

Myth: You can get pregnant as soon as you stop having sex

Truth: Having sex does not mean having a baby. The human body needs time to prepare for pregnancy, and it takes about a full cycle of the woman’s menstrual cycle for that process to be completed. Once she is in her fertile window, she will be able to get pregnant within 1-2 months of stopping contraceptive use or using an alternative method of birth control.

Myth: You need to have intercourse every day to get pregnant

Truth: It is possible to get pregnant without having intercourse every single day and it is possible for some women not to get pregnant even if they are having sex every day.

Myth: You can’t get pregnant if you have a low FSH.

Truth: There’s no such thing as a “normal” FSH level. Your doctor will test your FSH levels at the beginning and end of each menstrual cycle (and sometimes throughout), but it is possible to be fertile even if your FSH is in the low or mid-range.

Myth: You can’t get pregnant if you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Truth: Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder in which your ovaries contain many small follicles (eggs) instead of one large one. However, this doesn’t mean that all women with PCOS are infertile. For example, women with mild PCOS may still ovulate normally and become pregnant without any problems at all. In fact, many of these women do become pregnant with an egg donation, IVF, or ICSI procedure!

Myth: You can’t get pregnant after 35

While getting pregnant after 35 may seem impossible, the truth is that most women do conceive after this age. Women over the age of 35 often have a smaller uterus than younger women and this makes conception more difficult. But if you’re trying for a baby, there are ways to increase fertility even after you have crossed the age of 35.

Connect with a doctor

Instead of searching through the web and possibly ending up believing a myth, it’s a better idea to consult a doctor. Your OB-GYN is a fitting specialist who can answer all your fertility-related questions. They can provide you with science-based details, ensuring you’re thoroughly informed about your reproductive health.