What is IVF treatment?
One kind of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF), in which sperm and an egg are fertilized in a laboratory rather than inside a woman’s body. IVF treatment is labor-intensive because eggs are taken from the ovaries and then mixed with sperm in a lab. Several days after fertilization, the fertilized egg, now called an embryo, is put into the wall of the uterus. When this embryo implants in the uterine wall, pregnancy is established.
The reason why in vitro fertilization is done
The inability to conceive is one of several reasons people turn to IVF. Some people use IVF when they have tried everything else and still can’t have a child, or when the mother is too old for a normal birth. For same-sex couples or singles who want to start a family, IVF treatment is a viable reproductive choice.
If either you or your partner meets the following criteria, IVF treatment may be an option:
- Fallopian tube blockage or injury.
- Damage to or a lack of sperm quality
- Ovarian problems.
- Inflammation of the uterine lining caused by fibroids
- Issues related to the female reproductive system
- Possibility of being a carrier of a genetic condition or disease
- Infertility with no known cause.
What you can do to get your body ready for in vitro fertilization
Fertility-boosting foods
The first piece of advice is to improve your diet by adding fertility-boosting items. Keeping a healthy body mass index (BMI) is very important if you want your IVF cycle to be more likely to work. The criteria for a healthy body mass index (BMI) vary by clinic, but a healthy BMI is between 20 and 30.
It is very important to eat a diet that is high in protein, iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium but low in fat. Fertility doctors suggest having fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens. Avocados, eggs, almonds, beans, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and whole grains are all foods that have been shown to improve fertility. To maintain good health, it’s best to stay away from sugary, processed, and hydrogenated foods. Before consulting with your fertility doctor, no dietary changes should be made, as doing so may compromise your treatment.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
Second, to prepare your body for IVF, fertility doctors suggest that you give up nicotine and alcohol and cut back on coffee. Even if your IVF procedure works, smoking can hurt the developing baby by making the ovaries age faster and making eggs less likely to stick together. Alcohol use can lower the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles by up to 50%, so it’s clear that you should not drink at all before or during the IVF process. According to the research, you should not drink more than two cups of coffee before and during an IVF cycle.
Purchase quality vitamins.
The quality of the eggs used in an IVF cycle has a lot to do with the procedure’s success. So the third piece of advice is to try taking some fertility vitamins. There are a lot of prenatal supplements on the shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies, but it is important to buy a good multivitamin. Even if the IVF specialist at your fertility clinic can’t recommend a specific one, you should take folic acid at the very least before and during your cycle.
Adopt relaxing methods.
Before, during, and after an IVF cycle: Take steps to lessen stress in your life, rest up, and practice relaxation strategies like meditation, mindfulness, or even simple deep breathing exercises. Keeping your stress levels low during an IVF cycle is easier said than done, but it is crucial. The process is emotionally and physically taxing. Meditation has helped the person a lot during their cycles because it has helped them control their breathing and focus on the present. During the second round of IVF, they also started using a mindfulness app designed specifically for the process, which has proven helpful. Because it had mindfulness techniques for each step of the process, it helped the person stay calm and hopeful throughout the IVF cycle.
Be Patience
Having an embryo implanted is a process that takes time. Getting to a healthy pregnancy can be a long and winding road. Be as patient and consistent as possible, despite how challenging it may be. A number of procedures may be necessary before a pregnancy can be considered healthy. Realizing this in advance will ease your mind about the potential length of the road ahead. Nevertheless, have faith in the process.
