Statistics Vs. Perceptions

Lately, I'm enveloped in the vortex of proposals, weddings, and - of course - baby-making. Wherever I go, invariably the female part of the gathering gravitates towards this topic.

It's ironic, you know. We spend all our lives trying to avoid getting pregnant, and then when we finally say "okay, now I am ready" - it turns out that the chances of actually getting pregnant are not all that high.

Peculiar how stats can be turned whichever way you want (or don't want). When we’re avoiding pregnancy, we tend to exclaim something along the lines of: “birth control pills are only 97% reliable?! There is a three percent chance that I will get pregnant??" And then we think about doubling our protection with a condom. Or if there’s none at hand (oh dear god) plastic food wrap. Ew. 

Later, when you’re starting to get pregnant, all of a sudden your whole perception flips. While 3% seemed frighteningly high before, 25% (and that's the probability number for getting pregnant) seems excruciatingly low. ONLY 25%?!

Therefore the amount of hearsay, superstition, and advice on the subject is mind-boggling. 

The guy should be on top. Okay, this I get: let gravity help you.

The guy shouldn't jog too frequently. Why? Well, he’s overheating his testicles, of course. Now that is damaging his sperm quality. Okaaaay.

The girl shouldn't eat peas. Why? Apparently, they are mischievous enough to start releasing some dangerous, conception-fighting chemicals the moment you swallow them. Right. Tell that to all those bean-loving countries like India.

The list goes on and on.

The thing is that even if a guy is asserting an aggressive, dominant sex position and peas are harder to find than mice in your kitchen, chances of getting pregnant are still about… one out of four.

Or ONLY 25%.