Fertility myths vs facts: What you should know before trying to conceive

Published August 10, 2026

Approximately 1 in 6 people globally experience infertility.¹ Clinically, infertility is defined as not becoming pregnant after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex (or after 6 months for women age 35 and above). For some, getting pregnant for the first time is the challenge. For others, it happens after a previous successful pregnancy, when the first time offered no warning that the second might be different.²

Getting pregnant takes 2 people and a lot has to go right, so it's no surprise there are misconceptions about how it all works. Here's what the clinical evidence actually supports, and where testing can give you and your healthcare provider information to act on.³

Myth #1: Fertility is only a woman’s issue

Fact: Fertility involves both partners. When a couple has difficulty conceiving, male factors contribute about half the time. Sperm health plays a major role, which includes factors like concentration (count), motility (movement), and progressive motility (forward movement). Fertility challenges can have many causes. About one-third are linked to female factors, one-third to male factors, and one-third to a combination of both or unexplained causes. Because fertility can be complex, both partners are encouraged to talk with a healthcare provider for evaluation and next steps.²⁻⁴

Myth #2: If you feel fine, your body is ready for pregnancy

Fact: Several conditions that can affect overall health or fetal development may cause few, if any, symptoms early on, including STIs, thyroid dysfunction, elevated blood sugar, and low folate or iron. Folate matters especially early for pregnancy. It supports development of the neural tube, which forms in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before someone knows they're pregnant. Levels need to be adequate by then rather than corrected afterward. Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid disease may cause complications during pregnancy, so it’s best to have them well managed beforehand.⁴ Several of the same conditions can also affect sperm quality, so preconception health isn’t only a consideration for the partner who will carry the pregnancy. Knowing where your health stands can give you time to address any issues and enter pregnancy with fewer unknowns.²

Myth #3: Regular periods mean everything is working normally

Fact: Regular cycles often indicate ovulation, but they don’t guarantee it or confirm overall reproductive health. Menstruation and ovulation are separate events. It's possible to bleed without releasing an egg, and that flow can look normal enough to pass for a regular period. Cycles also don’t reveal everything about the hormones behind them. Thyroid hormones, prolactin, and androgens can all affect fertility, and they can be off while periods stay on track. For some women, difficulty getting pregnant—not an irregular period—may be the first sign something is going on.³,⁵

Myth #4: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) tells you exactly how fertile you are

Fact: AMH is a marker of ovarian reserve, or egg supply, not a direct measure of fertility. It’s a hormone made by small follicles in your ovaries that contain eggs and reflects your remaining egg supply, not egg quality. AMH can also help predict how you might respond to fertility treatments like IVF, but it can’t predict whether you’ll conceive or tell you exactly how fertile you are.⁵,⁶

Myth #5: You can only check AMH if you’re experiencing fertility issues

Fact: AMH can be useful even if you’re not trying to get pregnant or not experiencing fertility issues. Checking AMH provides a reference point for you and your healthcare provider. It can also help with reproductive planning should you ever consider freezing your eggs.⁵,⁶

Myth #6: Testosterone only matters for male sex drive, not fertility

Fact: Testosterone is often thought of as only a male sex hormone, but females have (and need) testosterone too, just in much smaller amounts. In women, testosterone helps make estrogen and is thought to have important effects on ovarian function. In men, testosterone is essential for making sperm. Sperm production depends on testosterone inside the testicles, where levels run much higher than in the blood. However, testosterone therapy can have the opposite effect by raising blood levels and lowering them inside the testicles, leading to a lower sperm count. Men planning a family can talk with their healthcare provider about options that support testosterone levels and fertility.³,⁷

Myth #7: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is just a bedroom problem

Fact: Erectile dysfunction is often one of the first visible signs of an underlying condition that needs attention. Erections depend on blood flow, and the arteries in the penis are narrower than those in the heart. When blood vessels stiffen or become clogged, the narrowest ones show it first. ED can appear years before any other cardiovascular symptom does. It's a signal worth acting on, and identifying and treating the underlying cause often helps.⁸

Myth #8: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) don’t affect fertility

Fact: Untreated STIs can affect reproductive health. When infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea go untreated, they can cause scarring that affects fertility in both men and women. Because many STIs don’t cause symptoms, this damage can happen without you knowing. Getting tested and treated early can help prevent long-term complications.⁵,⁷,⁹

Myth #9: Progesterone doesn’t matter until you’re pregnant

Fact: Progesterone rises after an egg is released, so measuring it can help you know if ovulation happened. That makes it an important hormone before pregnancy, not just during it. After ovulation, progesterone prepares your uterus for pregnancy by thickening the lining so a fertilized egg can implant and grow. If pregnancy occurs, levels stay elevated to help support it. If it doesn’t, levels drop and the lining of the uterus sheds during menstruation.⁵ Progesterone matters for men too. It’s an often-overlooked hormone involved in the production of testosterone.⁷