Myth 3: ‘Free-from’ eating (and other dieting) improves fertility

Ignore what you see online – fad diets won’t help when you’re trying to get pregnant. Dr Malik says that keto “really isn’t good for you long term”, adding: “smoothie and fasting diets can be harmful to fertility, especially those high in sugar which cause spikes in blood sugar levels.

“One big myth is that going gluten-free and dairy-free is somehow good for your fertility,” Dr Malik adds. “There’s no evidence for that. Unless you have a gluten sensitivity, or you’re overdoing the dairy, this isn’t something you need to worry about.”

Fact: You’d be better off being ‘free-from’ food stress while trying to conceive

Obviously we’re going to tell you that eating well is great for you, whether you’re trying to have a baby or not. But ditching the stress when it comes to food can make the journey to getting pregnant much more smooth. Beyond maintaining a healthy diet, try not to overthink it, says Dr Malik. “You just have to be healthy. Don’t have loads of takeout, and make fresh food at home.”

“A healthy diet is great for overall well-being, but it doesn’t replace the need for proper medical care if you have underlying fertility issues,” says Dr Shah. If something’s wrong, get advice from a pro, not from the online comments section.

Myth 4: You need to eat organically

Being a card-carrying TTC member is stressful enough without getting into a financially ruinous tizz about organic grub. You’re better off concentrating on eating 30 plants a week for gut diversity rather than panicking about non-organic broccoli.

“People should focus more on a balanced diet rather than spending extra money on organic foods during a cost-of-living crisis,” says Dr Malik. “There’s no scientific evidence that organic food is better for fertility, though I do recommend organic dairy products to minimise hormone intake.”

6 conception myths that fertility doctors want you to stop believing right now