No, Boobs Don’t “Need to Breathe” at Night — And 9 Other Women’s Health Myths

Women get a lot of bad health advice—some of it passed down by well-meaning relatives, some repeated by influencers who aren’t qualified to give medical information. The result is a lot of confusion about what’s true and what’s not, especially when it comes to reproductive and hormonal health.

In this article, we’re tackling some common women’s health myths we wish would go away, including the one about your boobs “needing to breathe” at night, and breaking down what the science actually says. One of the myths we’ll cover relates directly to egg freezing, so if you're thinking about preserving your fertility, keep reading.

Some of these myths are just outdated. Others are rooted in fear or misinformation. All of them deserve to be questioned, because when it comes to your body, facts are better than folklore.

1. Your breasts need to “breathe” at night

There’s no physiological reason your breasts need to “breathe” at night or that going braless while you sleep has any meaningful impact on your health. Breasts don’t have lungs. And skin gets all the oxygen it needs from the bloodstream, not from the air.

The origins of this myth may have come from the idea that bras, especially underwire ones, restrict lymphatic flow or contribute to breast cancer risk. But research has found no link between wearing a bra and increased breast cancer risk. Whether you sleep in a bra is a comfort preference, not a health decision.

2. You can’t get pregnant during your period

While it’s less likely, it’s not impossible to get pregnant during your period. Sperm can live in the body for up to five days, and ovulation timing can vary especially for people with irregular cycles. If you have sex toward the end of your period and ovulate early, conception could still happen.

So if you're not trying to get pregnant and you’re relying on the calendar alone, it’s not a foolproof method.

3. Egg freezing guarantees future pregnancy

Egg freezing can increase your chances of having a baby later but it doesn’t offer a 100% guarantee. The number of eggs frozen, your age at the time of freezing, and the quality of those eggs all factor into future success.

Fertility doctors often talk in probabilities, not promises. For example, a 32-year-old who freezes 15 mature eggs may have a higher chance of a future live birth than a 38-year-old freezing the same number. But even then, not every egg will lead to a viable embryo. It’s an amazing tool for reproductive planning, but not an insurance policy.

Learn more about how to freeze your eggs for free with our Split program.

4. You should “reset” your vagina with a detox or steam

The vagina is self-cleaning. It doesn’t need jade eggs, detox pearls, or vaginal steaming to “cleanse” or “rebalance” anything. In fact, these products can do more harm than good by disrupting your vaginal microbiome or causing burns or irritation.

If you’re experiencing odor, discharge, or discomfort that feels off, it’s a good idea to talk to a provider. Steaming your vagina is definitely not a medically recommended solution... and your OB-GYN does not want you doing it!

5. Hormonal birth control causes infertility

There’s no evidence that using hormonal birth control causes long-term fertility problems. While it can take up to three months for your cycle to regulate after stopping the pill, patch, or ring, most people return to their baseline fertility fairly quickly.

That said, if you were already experiencing irregular cycles or underlying hormonal issues before going on birth control, those issues might return once you stop. This can lead to the (incorrect) assumption that the birth control “caused” something. It didn’t. It just masked a problem that was already there before.

6. A “clean” diet can fix your hormones

Nutrition absolutely plays a role in hormonal health but “clean eating” alone won’t resolve every imbalance. In fact, overly restrictive diets can sometimes make things worse, especially when they lead to under-eating or overexercising.

Hormonal regulation involves a finely tuned system of feedback loops across your brain, ovaries, thyroid, and adrenal glands. Supporting that system with food is helpful and crucial, but be wary of anyone promising to “balance your hormones” with just supplements and salads.

7. Fertility doesn’t decline until your 40s

Fertility starts to decline earlier than many people realize, typically in your early 30s and more steeply after age 35. That doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant later, but it may take longer, and the chances of miscarriage or complications can increase.

Part of the reason this myth persists is because we often hear about celebrities having babies in their 40s without much context about how they got there. Egg freezing, IVF, and donor eggs are often a part of those stories, even if it’s not shared publicly.

If having biological children is something you think you may want, it’s worth getting informed early whether that means doing fertility testing, freezing your eggs, or just talking with a provider about your options.

The bottom line

Misinformation thrives when reproductive health isn’t talked about openly. But you deserve real answers, backed by evidence, not recycled myths. Whether you're navigating egg freezing, birth control, or just trying to make sense of your body, having accurate information puts you in a better position to make decisions that align with your goals.

If something you’ve heard doesn’t sit right, ask questions. Your body isn’t broken or mysterious—it’s just been underserved by bad science communication for way too long.