Somewhere between a nervous health-class slideshow and a group chat full of half-remembered advice, most of us picked up a few fertility ‘facts’ that are, well, fiction. Consider this your friendly myth-busting session and no one will ask you to label a diagram.

1. It can take a while, and that's normal.

Few people conceive in the first month. Up to six months is perfectly ordinary, and even a year can fall within the normal range.

In one study of couples using fertility tracking, 68% were expecting after three months and 92% after a year. If a year passes with no luck (or six months if you're over 35), it's time to talk to a doctor.

2. Day 14 is an average, not an appointment

The textbook 28-day cycle with mid-cycle ovulation is just that, a textbook. Healthy cycles run anywhere from 21 to 35 days, and ovulation can land as early as day 6 or 7 or as late as day 19 or 20.

3. Your ovaries don't take turns

There's no strict left-right schedule. Ovulation may switch sides or favor one for a while, which is why your ovulation twinge may keep showing up on the same side.

4. Yes, you can get pregnant on your period

Pregnancy depends on when you ovulate, not on whether you're bleeding. With a short cycle, ovulation can arrive soon after your period ends, and sperm can wait around for days. Your period does not ‘wash out’ sperm.

5. Timing tip: sooner beats later

Sperm can survive up to six days, while the egg lasts only 12 to 24 hours after release. So the two days before ovulation are your best window. Sex after ovulation is fine, but it's less likely to lead to conception.

Also Read: The science of timing, when you're most likely to conceive

6. Daily sex isn't a shortcut

No evidence shows that more is better. Sex every few days, or around your fertile days, covers your bases. Overdoing it mostly brings burnout and pressure.

7. Ovulation signs can be shy

Temperature charting, cervical mucus checks and ovulation test strips all help, but none is foolproof. Irregular sleep, inconsistent habits or faint test lines can muddy the picture.

If you can't spot any signs at all, ask a doctor whether you're ovulating regularly.

8. Ovulation is only one piece of the puzzle

Open fallopian tubes and healthy sperm matter just as much, and problems in either can be silent. Some can only be found with testing.

9. Fertility dips after 35

It's not about how fit you are, age plays a role in everyone's fertility. That's why people over 35 are advised to seek help sooner.

10. But 40 is not a cutoff

Plenty of people have healthy pregnancies after 40, though it may take longer, and risks like miscarriage and complications rise.

One more note: until menopause is complete, perimenopause still calls for contraception if you want to avoid pregnancy.

11. Men have a clock too.

Male fertility also fades with age. Fatherhood after 40 carries a higher chance of miscarriage and stillbirth, and is linked to a greater risk of certain conditions in children. Celebrity dads in their sixties are not the rule.

Also Read: What are the signs of male infertility? Symptoms, causes and risk factors to know

12. Birth control doesn't cause infertility

Once you stop hormonal contraception, your natural fertility returns. Irregular cycles afterward often mean the pill was simply keeping them regular before.

The exception worth knowing is the Depo-Provera shot, it doesn't cause infertility, but its effects can linger. Most people conceive within 10 months of stopping, while for some it takes up to two years.

13. There's no magic position

Any position that gets semen near the cervix can result in pregnancy, and even semen near the vaginal opening can do it. Standing up afterward won't undo anything.

Fertility is more complicated than we were taught, and that's not your fault. Track what helps, skip the pressure, and lean on the experts when in doubt.

Also Read: What is an incomplete miscarriage?

(Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not replace professional medical advice. Every body and every cycle is different. If you have concerns about your fertility, ovulation or contraception, please consult a qualified doctor or gynecologist.)