6) All women ovulate on day 14: fiction
If only it were this simple. Even though most women are only able to conceive for a few days around the day they ovulate, finding that time is a tricky business. All women are different and so are our menstrual cycles - day 14 is just an average.
Try using an ovulation test (Clearblue do one, available from Boots) to really get to grips with your cycle.
7) Sperm only live a few days: fiction
Sperm can live for up to seven days inside a woman. A woman's egg can live for between 12 and 24 hours, so put the two together and you've got one week a month where you should be having a LOT of sex!
8.) Women are more prone to infertility than men: fiction
This myth's origins probably lie in pure sexism. In reality, infertility is about 40 per cent men, 40 per cent women and 20 per cent both.
9) If you've had one baby, you'll be able to have another: fiction
Having one child does not mean you can't experience a fertility problem when you try to have another. This is called secondary infertility and it can be due to a number of factors including your increased age, and changes in your weight, diet and general health.
10) Stress causes infertility: false
There's no denying that stress gets in the way of baby-making; for one thing if you're stressed you probably don't have the time or inclination to have much sex.
However the direct cause of infertility is more likely to be a clinical, rather than psychological problem. This doesn't mean it's not worth tackling the stress in your life in order to boost your chances of conceiving - you'll be more relaxed, healthier and have more time for each other.
