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Dr Preetham Rao, a consultant in reproductive medicine at CREATE Fertility, has outlined the most common fertility myths she encounters, including the idea that fertility ends at 35, that one baby guarantees another, and that infertility is usually the woman’s ‘fault’. She says these misconceptions can delay diagnoses and increase anxiety, and urges earlier investigation for both partners.
A consultant in reproductive medicine at CREATE Fertility, Dr Preetham Rao, has set out the fertility myths she most wants couples to disregard, warning that widely held misconceptions — from the belief that fertility ends at 35 to the assumption that infertility is usually the woman’s “fault” — can delay diagnoses, increase anxiety and stop people seeking help. Speaking to parenting site MadeForMums, Dr Rao said the biggest obstacle for couples trying to conceive is sometimes not medical at all, but the advice they have absorbed from friends, family, social media and even some healthcare professionals.
The first myth Dr Rao addresses is the reassurance that being young means having plenty of time. According to Dr Rao, age does matter: women are born with a limited egg supply that declines with age, with a measurable decline in fertility beginning in the mid-20s, becoming steeper in the mid-30s and accelerating after age 37. She also cited figures on egg quality, stating that chromosomal abnormality increases ten times after age 40 in women compared with women younger than 25.
However, Dr Rao said the popular “fertility cliff” framing is misleading. “There is no universal age that marks the end of fertility,” she said, adding that the idea that fertility ends at 35 is based partly on outdated data that does not account for factors such as improved nutrition and lifestyle. She cautioned against over-reliance on ovarian reserve testing to predict natural fertility, because these measures reflect egg quantity rather than quality. Her practical advice: anyone with irregular periods, symptoms of underlying conditions, or six months to a year of unsuccessful trying should seek investigation regardless of age.
The second myth is that having one baby guarantees another. Dr Rao said secondary infertility — difficulty conceiving after a previous pregnancy — affects millions of couples and is “just as real” as primary infertility. “You get older, your partner gets older, and new medical conditions can develop,” she said, noting that endometriosis can progress and ovarian reserve naturally declines between pregnancies. The third myth, that infertility is “usually the woman’s fault”, was described by Dr Rao as outdated: roughly one-third of cases involve male factors, one-third female factors, and one-third both or unknown causes. She called for semen analysis to be one of the first tests performed, describing it as simple and non-invasive, and said she has seen couples undergo months of invasive female testing only to find severe male factor infertility that a basic sperm test would have identified.
Why These Myths Delay Diagnosis
The significance of Dr Rao’s intervention lies in the consequences of the misconceptions themselves. According to her account, myths provide “simple explanations for complex problems”, which can lead couples to wait too long before seeking medical assessment — a delay she described as “particularly costly when age-related decline is already a factor”. The stakes are practical: a basic semen analysis done early can spare women months of invasive testing, and earlier investigation of conditions such as PCOS or endometriosis can shorten the path to treatment.
The commentary also highlights an emotional dimension. Dr Rao said women still bear most of the emotional and practical burden of fertility investigations “while male partners remain largely overlooked”, and that secondary infertility can be isolating, often compounded by comments about being “lucky” to already have one child. Her message to couples: “You deserve better than myths — you deserve evidence-based care, realistic expectations, and compassionate support throughout your fertility journey.”
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Where the Myths Come From
Dr Rao’s comments were published by MadeForMums, a UK parenting website, as part of an expert explainer aimed at couples trying to conceive. She said the myths persist because they circulate through friends, family, social media and even some healthcare professionals, despite evidence to the contrary. Her clinic, CREATE Fertility, provides reproductive medicine services in the UK. The report blends her clinical observations — including patients as young as 22 with fertility-affecting conditions and patients aged 42 who conceived naturally — with general guidance on fertility timelines and testing. The piece was published in 2026, according to a remark in the source material in which Dr Rao noted that women are “still” bearing the burden of fertility investigations “in 2026”.
“Fertility myths persist because they offer simple explanations for complex problems. But you deserve better than myths — you deserve evidence-based care, realistic expectations, and compassionate support throughout your fertility journey.”
— Dr Preetham Rao, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at CREATE Fertility
Limits of the Doctor’s Claims
The statements in the report are the professional opinion and clinical observations of one fertility consultant, and the underlying MadeForMums article is an advice piece rather than a peer-reviewed study. Specific figures Dr Rao cites — such as the ten-fold rise in chromosomal abnormality after age 40, the age-related timeline of fertility decline, and the one-third breakdown of infertility causes — are presented as her account without named published studies attached in the source material. The source also uses inconsistent pronouns for Dr Rao, and the article excerpt cuts off mid-sentence while discussing male lifestyle factors, so the full scope of her comments on that topic is not available. Individual fertility outcomes vary widely, and the guidance given is general; it does not replace assessment by a patient’s own clinician for specific symptoms or circumstances.
Practical Steps for Concerned Couples
For readers who recognise themselves in these myths, the actionable takeaway from Dr Rao’s commentary is to seek medical advice promptly if there are symptoms of underlying conditions, irregular periods, or six months to a year of unsuccessful trying — irrespective of age. Couples can request that male fertility testing, including a semen analysis, form part of early investigation rather than a later step. Those worried about previous pregnancies not guaranteeing future fertility can raise secondary infertility directly with a doctor. Broader developments to watch include continued public-health and clinic-led efforts to improve fertility literacy and to normalise early testing for both partners.
Key Questions
Does fertility really end at age 35?
No, according to Dr Rao. While fertility declines measurably from the mid-20s and more steeply after the mid-30s, she said there is no universal age at which fertility ends, and the ‘ends at 35’ idea rests partly on outdated data. Age-related decline varies between individuals.
What is secondary infertility?
Secondary infertility is difficulty conceiving after having had a previous pregnancy. Dr Rao said it affects millions of couples, is just as real as primary infertility, and deserves the same investigation and support.
How often is infertility caused by male factors?
According to Dr Rao, roughly one-third of infertility cases involve male reproductive issues, one-third female reproductive issues, and one-third involve both partners or unknown causes. She recommends semen analysis as an early, non-invasive test.
When should a couple see a doctor about fertility?
Dr Rao advises seeking investigation after six months to a year of unsuccessful trying, or sooner if there are symptoms of underlying conditions such as irregular periods — regardless of age.
Do ovarian reserve tests predict natural fertility?
Not reliably, according to Dr Rao. She said these tests better reflect egg quantity than egg quality, and over-dependence on them to predict natural fertility is a common pitfall.
Source: rss
