Often, we women are quite unaware of our own bodies. The lack of knowledge furthers when it comes to sexual health and the basic biology of how our body functions. There are numerous myths about sexual intercourse, menstruation, sexually transmitted diseases etc, but nothing is fraught with as much confusion as what could possibly get you pregnant. Here are 10 pregnancy myths - busted!
Myth 1: Certain sex positions play a part in getting you knocked up
As it turns out, gravity, or its lack thereof, doesn’t affect your chances of getting pregnant. About one-third women feel that certain sex positions have a higher chance of conceiving but that’s not really true.
Myth 2: Having more sex will not necessarily result in a pregnancy
Again, not true. Unlike a woman, who releases one egg every cycle, there are millions of sperms in every ejaculation, and only one of them is needed for the job. Moreover, every time a guy ejaculates, the volume of it goes down, along with the number of sperm released. So more intercourse doesn’t really make a sperm reach where it needs to be.
Myth 3: It's impossible to get pregnant the first time you have unprotected sex
Na-uh. There is always a chance that you might get pregnant after your first experience of unprotected sex. So don’t run the risk and use a contraceptive instead.
Myth 4: If you have sex during your period, you won't get you pregnant
It's unlikely but certainly not impossible. That’s because you are fertile on the days leading up to and around the time of ovulation – owing to a sperm’s life span – if you generally have a short cycle you could be ovulating just after your period. So there are chances that you are ovulating even in the first few days of your period.
Myth 5: Home tests can detect the pregnancy right away
Nope. The home pregnancy test works by detecting a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your urine. This hormone appears in a pregnant woman's urine, approximately 20 days after her last period. The levels then rise rapidly, reaching a peak in the next 60 to 80 days. However, if you get a 'Not Pregnant' result, try again when your period is due.
Myth 6: You can only conceive on two days each cycle
You are the most fertile for six days of the month, especially the day you ovulate and the day before. However, because a sperm can survive for up to five days, having sex on days leading up to ovulation might increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Myth 7: You need to orgasm to conceive
An orgasm is always a plus, but it is not essential when it comes to conceiving. But it does aid in contracting the uterus which helps the sperm travel towards the fallopian tubes faster.
Myth 8: Lifting your legs up in the air for 20 minutes after having sex can help you get pregnant
Ladies, your guy’s soldiers are chemically programmed to reach your eggs come what may, so making yourself uncomfortable after having sex won’t help in accelerating or preventing the process.
Myth 9: Having coffee or alcohol will keep you from getting pregnant
Nothing in overwhelming quantities is ever good. A lot of caffeine or alcohol might affect your fertility levels, but a cup of coffee and glass of wine every day does no one any harm.
Myth 10: Your uneven period cycle will keep you from conceiving
If you are having your periods every other month then it affects your chances of getting pregnant quickly, but it certainly doesn’t negate the possibility altogether - because you are still ovulating, albeit via a longer cycle.
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