When a couple struggles to get pregnant the most common piece of advice is to relax.
“Go on a holiday,” people say.
“It will happen. You’re just stressed.”
And while it’s a well-meaning suggestion from encouraging friends or family, nothing shits couples more than urban legends of couples who were barren until they hit the beach.
Dr. David Knight is the Medical Director at Demeter Fertility. His whole job is getting people up the duff. And he says the pregnancy vacay solution is BS. Because, alongside all those success stories of happy holiday sperms and eggs, there are a whole lot of failed attempts you never just hear about.
Listen to Dr Knight talk to Bec Judd and Monique Bowley on Mamamia’s pregnancy and birth podcast Hello, Bump:
“Because people have got what they want, they talk about it,” he said. “The people who have a break – and don’t get pregnant – don’t tell us about it.”
The old ‘everyone is getting knocked up so why can’t I’ thought still rings true, according to Dr. Knight:
“People think because a whole pile of other people can just have sex and get pregnant that everyone should be able to do that, but that’s just not the reality of the world.” he said.
So, if one is struggling with how to get that sperm into the egg what’s the solution?
He says sometimes, it’s not putting all your ovarian eggs in one basket.
“I’ve spent most of my career really trying to get across to people that happy women make happy eggs.” he said.
