Fun Fertility Fact Friday

NYTino24 · September 2016

What fun fertility fact did you recently learn that you would like to share and where did you learn it? The more uncommonly known the better!

NYTino24 · September 2016

I was inspired to create this post by some of the recent drive-bys, regulars who would like to see more participation by newbies, and large amount of newbies who are nervous to post because they "don't know a lot yet". Mostly, it was a reply post I saw last night that said a month, CD, and WAYDTGKU without R/R, C/S, GTKY, gif, or ever responding to anyone else... and it got 5 likes! Part of me thinks newbies are throwing out love-tits just to up their numbers so they don't look so new and that's sad. You've got a lot to contribute I'm sure. So let's see your stuff! Here's mine:

Twins tend to run on the female's side of the family since hyper-ovulation is the genetic cause of fraternal twins. (Identical twins happen by chance.) Here's a link for further reading. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-genes-influence-whethe/

MotherofDragons · September 2016

I've known this for a while so it isn't a new fact I've learned but more of a re-realization.

Sperm can live for up to 5/6 days. So I have sperm just chilling in my body. So weird. Soooooo weird.

thatcma · September 2016

I don't remember where I read/heard it but:

only 30% of women have implantation bleeding.

lulu1180 · September 2016

I learned that the 28 day cycle is a myth. Everyone's cycle varies greatly and even an individual's cycle can vary quite a bit

mamashan12 · September 2016

It's not new to me, but the fact that you only have a 20% chance of getting pregnant every month blows my mind. I spent so long trying to avoid getting pregnant and now I'm doing ALL THE THINGS to get it to happen.

mrsdaddario · September 2016

10% of the population will have some type of reproductive issues. PCOS/Unexplained Infertility/MFI etc.

BertieMeetsGertie · September 2016

I was surprised that your bbt can tell you so much. I learned this great tidbit from you lovely ladies!

eggplantface · September 2016

Has anyone found out what happens to the sperm after the 5/6 days they live? When they die? Do they disintegrate or do we have microscopic sperms coming out of our bodies in our discharge? Because that's a thought that's gonna fester.

pretzel2plus1 · September 2016

eggplantface said:

Has anyone found out what happens to the sperm after the 5/6 days they live? When they die? Do they disintegrate or do we have microscopic sperms coming out of our bodies in our discharge? Because that's a thought that's gonna fester.

***stuck in the box***

Ohhh now I'm going to think about that all day.

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2016

This got brought up here the other day- I had no idea saliva can kill sperm. Hopefully this isn't TMI but in the past, every time DH and I had sex we would use a bit of saliva as lube... Not ever going to do that again!!! Preseed from here on out!

laurad75 · September 2016

@tripledaggerWed95976 We used to do that too. No more. Hello preseed.

thatcma · September 2016

wait a minute.... @tripledaggerwed95976 and @laurad75 saliva kills sperm? I thought it just made it difficult for them to swim?!

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2016

EL824 said:

wait a minute.... @tripledaggerwed95976 and @laurad75 saliva kills sperm? I thought it just made it difficult for them to swim?!

That may be what it was. I just remember that saliva + sperm= no bueno

laurad75 · September 2016

@EL824 @tripledaggerWed95976

From Dr. Google: Some studies show that large quantities of saliva can impair sperm motility in an infertile couple. This might be true for a man who already has a decreased sperm count. But in most cases, if the man has a normal sperm count and motility, it’s not true.

berg · September 2016

To go along with @NYTino24 factoid. Your chance for conceiving identical twins increases after 35. Also there are studies that show if you're vegan, you're less likely to have twins than someone who has a diet with dairy, as milk has hormones which up your chances. Not sure if this needs a *TW* but just in case: *TW loss mentioned* 1 in like 8 or 10 (not sure which) pregnancies start off as multiples. It's called the Vanishing Twin as the second normal vanishes before the 8th week and first ultrasound. *End TW*

I found all of this a while ago, when we found out my cousin was having identicals. Probably Wiki.

the more you know

tripledaggerWed95976 · September 2016

@laurad75 thanks for the clarification!! My husband already has very low motility (18% motility last time we had it tested) so it definitely applies for us

saralee797-2 · September 2016

Yep definitely kills sperm and old habits die hard which led me to yell during BD the other night "noooo saliva kills sperm" but it was too late lol

thatcma · September 2016

@laurad75Well...hopefully that's true for us. If I bought "sperm friendly lube" I get the feeling my DH would go back into his "OMG ITS ALL HAPPENING TOO QUICKLY" mindset.

ShadeofGreen816 · September 2016

Just recently saw a study done by ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) that couples who ate a high protein (>25% of daily cals) and low carb (<40% of daily cals) were 4 times more likely to get pregnant during IVF.

The study only looked at IVF couples, but it seems reasonable that it could be generalized to non-IVF/IF couples? It said even when they controlled for BMI, they still saw this effect.

Here's a link to the article if you want to see it. https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/News-Room/News-Releases/2013/High-Protein-Low-Carb-Diets-Greatly-Improve-Fertility

GeorgiaWife6912 · September 2016

I recently learned from my bff that has dealt with IF that your ovaries can have different cycle lengths. Which can help account for cycle variations. She has one ovary that ovulates at 32 days and one at 46 days.

swimsister · September 2016

@EL824 That was my DH’s original reaction to the suggestion of sperm friendly lube. 2 cycles later I brought it up again and he said “I don’t know why we wouldn’t use it”. **Eyeroll** because you freaked out last time I mentioned it!! Ugh.

My Fun Fact is from the Great Sperm Race: that there are antibodies in my uterus that see sperm as an invading force and are actively trying to kill them. I understand why this is and it’s great that my body is trying to protect itself, but I watched that scene in horror. I have no idea how anyone does this on accident.

ShadeofGreen816 · September 2016

@GeorgiaWife6912 that's super interesting. I went through about 8 months where I was exactly 27 days one month, then 30 days the next, then back to 27, repeat... I wonder if that's why? My ovaries are playing nicely and taking turns?

silliegirlie143 · September 2016

Clinical Science Journal says that consuming nearly half your calories in the AM increases your fertility

This is big for me since I loooaaaaathe eating in the AM (I know all the reasons I should, even aside from fertility)

ETA: I think that half post was mine. Stupid Bump kept deleting the other Q&A

GeorgiaWife6912 · September 2016

@ShadeofGreen816 It definitely could be! My cycles are pretty irregular so I also wonder if that plays a part.

Edit: I apparently forgot how to tag

thatcma · September 2016

@swimsister my plan was to bring up sperm friendly stuff (and using OPKs) in December if we haven't gotten lucky by then, because it is going to take a lot of luck for whatever you want to call what we are doing right now.

TalesOfASocialIntrovert · September 2016

@GeorgiaWife6912 That is crazy!! The female reproductive system is one amazing bitch.

Fertility-ish, more pregnancy related but it's SO relevant to me and some (maybe few here, but still) ladies will find it comforting and helpful:

Tight control of blood glucose numbers prior to conception and during pregnancy for Type 1 Diabetics decreases the risk of fetal defect to the same percentage as non-diabetic women!

Also, Type 1 Diabetics in the non-ideal blood glucose range are at just as much risk to have SMALL babies as they are the huge babies everyone assumes are specific to people with Diabetes.

eggplantface · September 2016

@swimsister And the bouncer at the fallopian tube making sure the sperm is cool! That was crazy.

bumpybump · September 2016

Something many of us are living, age factors in for both women and men (but women are more affected):

For healthy women, fertility peaks in their mid 20s, begins declining at age 27, then nosedives around age 37.

Only 8 percent of men younger than 25 fail to impregnate their partner after a year of trying, that number grows to 15 percent after age 35.

https://www.parents.com/getting-pregnant/fertility/boost/facts-about-fertility/

Dilynne · September 2016

I recently learned that hot baths are frowned upon when TTC. That bites because I could literally live in my bath for days, especially with bubbles or a bath bomb.

WillRunForWine21 · September 2016

@tripledaggerWed95976 @EL824 @laurad75 @Saralee797

I had that exact moment last night. Saliva was about to be utilized and it was like slow motion.... "NOOOOOOOOO". Post BD was a long discussion on how weird and dirty sounding of a name pre-seed is and that has been rolled over to me snickering all through spin class as were told to "hold your load" and "explode through that wall". Obviously DH and I are mature enough to procreate.

My fun fact also involves twins.... I have identical twin cousins who are mirror twins. One is right handed and the other left. They even have matching birthmarks on opposite sides. They also are a pretty cool study on being "left brained" and "right brained" in their interests and habits. But mirror twins happen when the egg splits just a LITTLE bit later than with other identical twins and the axis of symmetry within the egg is already lined up.

thatcma · September 2016

@nytino24 thank you for starting this! It's a great thread with A LOT of information I did not know. My brain kind of feels like Rocko right now:

lund · September 2016

Unfortunately I don't have any pearls of wisdom that haven't already been mentioned, but this thread is awesome @NYTino24! I'm learning all sorts of cool and useful stuff!

I also heard that saliva can affect sperm motility or survival. But, my DH lives for BJs, and it really helps get him going when we're HIO for the 10th day in row and he's struggling to deliver the goods. So we just try to wipe or rinse off what we can and hope for the best. Some sperm is better than no sperm....amiright?

busymommy23 · September 2016

Wow! I've thought I knew a lot but I guess I was wrong! Lol. I'm learning way more than I expected, like the whole sperm/saliva thing. Definitely going to have to have DH stop that right away. We are just starting out EOD so hopefully I won't forget lol.

The sperm movie you guys keep mentioning? Where can DH and I watch this?

[Deleted User] · September 2016

Love this thread!! Good thinking

Men who carry cell phones in their front pockets are less likely to get their partner pregnant.

Women who are Vitamin D deficient (and many are) are less likely to get pregnant.

It is not necessary or helpful to lay on your back following intercourse, especially not for longer than 3-4 minutes. That's how you get a UTI. Go pee.

hope for a baby · September 2016

I learned, from "The Great Sperm Race," that the uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix have microscopic holes/tubes that can trap the sperm that explores these avenues when trying to get to the egg.

It is amazing to me that anybody is able to procreate at all, let alone on accident.

Edit for grammar.

thatcma · September 2016

@busymommy23 on youtube

JDW0325 · September 2016

WHAT? I can't take hot baths anymore? nooooooooooooo

laurad75 · September 2016

@busymommy23 It's on YouTube. Here is the link to part 1 of 6. Its about an hour long and fascinating.

busymommy23 · September 2016

Thank you @EL824 and @laurad75

lund · September 2016

laurad75 said:

@busymommy23 It's on YouTube. Here is the link to part 1 of 6. Its about an hour long and fascinating.

Now I know what I'm doing for the rest of the workday .....

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