In vitro fertilisation or IVF is one of the methods for couples who cannot conceive naturally. Even though the odds of conceiving through this procedure differs between couples, knowing how to make IVF successful will be very beneficial. If you want to have a successful first attempt, here are some helpful IVF success tips:
Do your research
Choosing the right IVF centre is essential to improve your chances of a pregnancy. Make a list of clinics that offer IVF treatment and find out these answers before choosing one:
- Pregnancy rate per embryo transfer
- Pregnancy rate for couples similar to your age
- Clinic accreditation and certifications of the specialists
- Cost of IVF procedure
- How long can the embryos be stored
- How many successful pregnancies are multiple births
Avoid ejaculation
The male partner should not ejaculate for 3 to 4 days before the sperm donation. Avoid sexual intercourse and masturbation; this will increase the sperm count, leading to chances of a successful IVF. It is also essential to get a semen analysis before the IVF process because the sperm quality can change over time.
Eat healthily
Eat foods rich in monounsaturated fats; it can help women trying to get pregnant through IVF. These good fats can also help lower inflammation in your body, protect your heart, and improve your fertility.
So make sure you eat plenty of foods rich in monounsaturated fats such as nuts, sunflower oil and olive oil, avocados and seeds. They can also help in the development of your fetus, along with improving fertility. Some research shows that women who were on a diet rich in saturated fats like butter and red meat produced fewer eggs. Therefore add these diet tips to your successful IVF checklist.
Meditation
Stress adversely affects your mind and body; this reduces the chances of a successful IVF. It is normal to worry whether your fertility treatment is working or not. However, you must find time each day to relax and de-stress. Meditation that involves gentle breathing can significantly reduce stress.
Avoid tough exercise routines
Even though exercise and workouts are essential to maintain good health, strenuous exercise can reduce fertility levels. Too much heavy exercise will likely cause implantation failure and pregnancy loss. So go easy around your IVF treatment and opt for light exercises such as walking or yoga.
Get plenty of sleep
Adopt a normal sleep cycle for at least 2 weeks before the IVF appointment. Go to sleep early and make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep every day. Also, remember to sleep in complete darkness as it helps regulate the melatonin levels in your body and improve your emotional well-being.
Maintain a healthy weight
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) can influence your chances of an IVF success. If you are obese (BMI>35) or underweight (BMI<19), the difficulty of conception increases by 2 and 4 times. Being overweight can also lead to egg retrieval complications during the procedure. So, if you fall on either side of the weight index, make sure to change your diet and lifestyle. Also enrolling in cardio weight loss programs is even more beneficial.
Quit smoking
Smoking can affect the quality of the sperm and egg. It reduces your chances of a successful IVF drastically. We understand, trying to quit smoking is challenging and cannot be handled single-handedly. You will need support from family and friends, also join some stop smoking programs or get a consultant. It will make this challenging journey a lot easier.
Prescribed supplements
Talk to your IVF specialist about getting any supplements that can help with your success chances. Supplements like DHEA and CoQ10 can improve the quality of the egg and sperm, increasing your chances of IVF success. Also, take vitamin D supplements as they are helpful, too.
Your mental and physical health affects your chances of conception. Furthermore, IVF can take a toll on your emotional well-being, so be prepared for this phase of your life. Speak with a counsellor about your hopes and fears. Ensure that your partner, family and friends support you throughout this process.
These are some of the tips that you can follow to increases your chances of a successful IVF treatment. However, consult your IVF specialist as they can provide you with better guidelines based on your body’s condition.