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QUIZ: Can You Tell The Fertility Myths From The Facts?

Can you spot which of these ‘facts’ are total myths?
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BETWEEN THE SCARES, the miracle remedies and the other countless myths around what can boost and impede your chances of conceiving, it’s sometimes hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to getting pregnant.

Can you spot the real facts among the myths of what makes it more or less likely to become pregnant, and the treatments available when conceiving isn’t so simple?

Put your fertility knowledge to the test in our quiz below.

1. Which of these are known to negatively affect a woman's fertility? (Select one group)
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Consumption of vitamin C, use of an IUD, previous history of breastfeeding
Breast issues, heart disease, prolonged use of the contraceptive pill

Untreated STIs, inflammatory bowel disease and acute appendicitis
Kidney disorders, migraines, low blood pressure
2. Which of these are most likely to negatively impact on a man's sperm count? (Select one group)
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Drug use, weight issues, thyroid problems
Early onset adolescence, number of sexual partners

Lack of vitamin B, asthma
Eating soy, liver issues, lack of vitamin A
3. Fertility issues tend to affect...
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Men more often than women
Women more often than men

Men and women equally
They only affect women
4. Taking the contraceptive pill long-term is likely to lower your fertility.
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True
False
5. Which of these treatments is recommended specifically if a man has a low sperm count?
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Reproductive immunology
Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Testosterone injections
6. What is intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)?
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A type of artificial insemination involving injection of washed sperm into the uterus with a catheter
It's a type of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg

A type of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) which specifically uses egg donation
A type of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) which specifically uses sperm donation
7. One year is the usual length of time couples are advised to try for before seeking medical help to conceive. When should a couple look for help sooner than that?
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If the woman is in her late thirties or older or doesn't have periods
If you previously conceived with no problem

If you've previously had a miscarriage
If you've already had two children or more
8. Does female fertility really drop dramatically at age 35?
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Yes
No - it dips dramatically at 30

No - it dips dramatically in your late twenties
No - it does decline in your thirties but the idea of a 'sudden drop' is far from clear-cut
9. Which lifestyle choices are hugely important for the fertility of both men and women?
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Avoiding both drinking and smoking and maintaining a healthy weight
Avoiding soy in the diet

Taking fertility supplements
Following a vegetarian diet
Answer all the questions to see your result!
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You scored out of !
You might need a refresher course.
You've got the basics down but there may be important aspects of your fertility knowledge that are lacking. Have a look at the rest of our Let's Talk About Fertility series to learn more.
Share your result:
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You scored out of !
You're fairly up to speed about conceiving.
You mostly realise what's myth and what's reality in relation to fertility. You have a fairly decent knowledge of the statistics surrounding starting a family in Ireland. If you're interested, read the rest of our Let's Talk About Fertility series to learn more.
Share your result:
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You scored out of !
You're a fertility expert.
Wow, you really know your fact from your fiction when it comes to conceiving a baby. You realise the number of people affected by infertility and understand the treatments that are available to them. Have a look at the rest of our Let's Talk About Fertility series to learn even more.
Share your result:

Let’s talk about fertility and plan ahead with Vhi Healthcare’s new range of fertility benefits. Vhi Healthcare’s fertility benefits are designed to help you at every stage of your journey, from initial investigations and advice, to counselling and fertility treatment including IVF. For more information, visit vhi.ie/fertility. 

Read our Let’s Talk About Fertility series>

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