The gynecologist specializing in female hormonal health at HM Fertility Center, Dr. Bárbara Castro, has emphasized that "having regular cycles does not guarantee the absence of reproductive problems," an idea that falls within "some of the most widespread myths about fertility."
During her presentation at the second edition of the 'Fertility Myths' meeting, organized by this center of the HM Hospitales healthcare group together with the Women's Sports Institute, she pointed out that "many women discover how their hormonal cycle works when they have already been trying to get pregnant for some time."
At this conference, held at the HM Hospitales University Center for Health Sciences of the Camilo José Cela University (CUHMED), in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), Castro stressed that "between 40 and 50 percent of infertility cases have a male origin." Therefore, she advocates for "normalizing conversations about contraception, ovarian reserve, and secondary infertility before women consider motherhood."
The participating experts have insisted on the need to "address reproductive health from a multidisciplinary perspective, integrating medical knowledge, emotional support, and patient experience to help women make informed decisions about their reproductive future." They also recalled that "one in six couples experiences fertility problems," a reality "marked by the delay in the age of motherhood, changes in lifestyles, and the persistence of myths that generate confusion and uncertainty."
In this regard, the medical director of HM Fertility Center, Dr. Ana Gaitero, has pointed out that "fertility remains an area where the most extraordinary scientific advances coexist with some of the most persistent erroneous beliefs," highlighting "the role of scientific dissemination as an essential tool for improving reproductive health." In her opinion, "fertility does not begin when a woman enters an assisted reproduction consultation," but rather "when she understands her body and knows its signals."
Emotional Impact and Psychological Support in Fertility
The psychologist expert in fertility and stress management, María Gamero, has explained that "when a woman does not understand what is happening in her body, uncertainty turns into anxiety," and that this, "when it becomes chronic, has real biochemical effects on the hormonal axis." Faced with this situation, she has emphasized the importance of "psychological support," which "must be considered an essential part of reproductive care."
In the technological field, the Clinical Advisor of Vitrolife Group, Andrea Rivadeneira, has stressed that "the best technology does not replace human judgment: it enhances it," arguing that "innovation contributes to reducing uncertainty and facilitating more informed decision-making during the reproductive process." In the same vein, the director of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Laboratory at HM Fertility Center, Áurea García, has recalled that "the laboratory is the great invisible part of this process."
Elite Sport and Reproductive Health
The relationship between high-performance sport and fertility has been addressed in a round table moderated by the director of the Women's Sports Institute, Alejandra Domínguez. In this space, Castro has warned that "high-intensity training can alter the hormonal cycle and even cause amenorrhea when there is a sustained energy deficit."
The personal trainer, physiotherapist, and former elite athlete, Crys Díaz, has lamented that fertility continues to be "an absent topic in the sports environment." For her part, former footballer Ana María Romero Moreno has focused on "the importance of making visible" assisted reproduction, while Gaiteiro has closed the meeting by recalling that "women need information to decide."