In the past, for a woman to get pregnant, all sorts of rumors and myths were “conceived” to increase the chances that woman would get pregnant. All it takes is for one woman to see the connection between 2 unrelated events when it comes to fertility and a myth is born. Through the ages, this has “birthed” a number of strange and downright funny fertility myths and facts relating to increasing a woman’s chance of conception.
Below are some of the myths surrounding fertility that have been believed or passed down through the generations.
You Need to Have an Orgasm to Get Pregnant
This is a myth that suggests that having an orgasm means that there’s more lubrication in the vagina and therefore will cause the sperm to swim better. While this may be true, you certainly DO NOT need to have an orgasm to get pregnant. Sperm can live for a few days inside the vagina and can swim, although maybe slower, without the need to have an orgasm.
Keeping Your Legs Elevated After Sex Helps a Woman Conceive
What a way to ruin the mood by quickly elevating your legs after the man releases his semen. It’s crazy, but many women believe and stand by the fact that this works, even though it’s been proven that it does not. Because of the volume of sperm in each ejaculation (millions of sperm), it doesn’t matter if a little semen leaks out because there’s still a lot of sperm left.
Cough Syrup Helps With Conception
Having a hard time conceiving? Why not try a little Robitussin or Buckley’s? At least that’s what some people believe. A popular ingredient in cough syrup, guaifenesin, has been said to increase fertility by thinning the cervical mucus, just like it thins the mucus in your nasal passages. This has not been proven in any way, so why not leave the cough syrup for times when you actually have a cough or cold.
You Can Only Conceive in the Missionary Position
This is an old myth that has been around for a long time which states that conception can only occur if you’re doing it missionary style; Man on top, the woman on the bottom, lying face to face. This simply isn’t true either. You can do it sideways, backward, upside down or however creative you want to be. If the penis enters the vagina and ejaculation occurs, conception is quite possible.
Eating Yams Will Give You Twins
This is likely the craziest myth I have heard, but some believe it. Never mind the fact that twins are hereditary, some people actually believe that eating some yams while pregnant will cause an increase in the chance of having twins. There is a preliminary study done by a student that links the two, but it hasn’t been proven by anyone credible as of yet.
Do you know of any weird fertility myths that have been passed down through the ages or maybe even some myths that are still floating around today? Share them with us!
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