IVF Success Tips: Let’s Get Started!
Ready to achieve IVF success? Fantastic! We’ve got 5 IVF success tips for you! If you are thinking about or are in the midst of fertility treatments you know how critical every step in the process is. If one step goes awry, it could cause your IUI/IVF cycle to be cancelled. When a cycle is cancelled, you don’t get a refund, so all the money you spent on ultrasounds, blood work and medication goes down the drain and you’re usually asked to call the office the following month when you start your menstrual cycle.
This journey is a mentally and physically grueling process, so it’s best to do whatever you can to achieve success the first go round. Here are 5 IUI/IVF success tips:
1. Adopt a Mediterranean diet prior to IVF
Our first of five IVF success tips has to do with diet. Studies have shown that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with better IVF performance in women attempting fertility. Mediterranean-style diets focus on lean proteins (lots of fish, eggs and low-fat cheese), beans, nuts, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Grains are all whole-grains, and olive oil along with fresh herbs and spices, help to keep healthy fats and antioxidants in good supply.
2. Chinese Fertility Acupuncture
Our second of five IVF success tips may be covered by your insurance. Acupuncture can improve circulation to the ovaries and uterus, thicken the uterine lining, improve ovary function, regulate hormones, boost immunity, and decrease the chance of miscarriage. In addition, acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety and can help minimize side effects of IVF medications.
3. Supplements
Our next IVF success tip has to do with supplements. There are supplements that can help increase either egg quality, egg quantity (or both). B12 and CoQ10 help increase egg quality. CoQ10 is helpful for women over 35 and also for women who are diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve.
DHEA is recommended for women with diminished ovarian reserve as it can increase the number and quality of eggs. The number of eggs is important because IVF cycles can be cancelled if there are not enough eggs to retrieve.
Other recommended supplements include Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Also, look into R-alpha lipoic acid and either L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine.
Melatonin also comes recommended because not only does it increase egg quality, it protects against oxidative stress.
It takes 3 months for eggs to fully develop and this book can help you gain a better understanding of how supplements can help you achieve your fertility goals.
4. Exercise
Our fourth of five IVF success tips should come as no surprise: exercise. Exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy weight when you are TTC (trying to conceive). Consistency is key, so choose a form of exercise that will allow you to move your body on a regular basis. Swimming, dancing, walking, biking, yoga, are some ideas to consider. Listen to your body; and don’t overdo it. According to the Center for Reproductive Medicine, more than 3 hours of exercise per day has been shown to reduce fertility.
5. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Overhaul
Our last of our IVF success tips has to do with making small changes in your home. BPA significantly impairs fertility by reducing egg quality so swap out your reusable plastic food storage containers to ones that are BPA free; ditto for replacing your plastic water bottle for a stainless steel alternative. Even paper receipts are culprits; be sure to wash your hands after touching receipts. If offered a printed receipt or digital one, go with the latter.
Folate helps cancel out the negative effects of BPA. The good news is folate is found naturally in foods such as cauliflower, kale, asparagus, spinach, broccoli, berries and oranges.
Phthalates are toxins that impair fertility. To minimize exposure, find substitutes for air fresheners, perfume and nail polish. Switch to fragrance-free cleaning products in your kitchen and laundry room.
Final Thoughts on IVF Success Tips
When it comes to setting yourself up for success with IUI/IVF, partner with your physician to see how you can see how you can incorporate these changes into your protocol.
While changes in diet and exercise are recommendations all health professionals tout, incorporating fertility acupuncture and supplements into your protocol and committing to a plastics overhaul can really make a difference.
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Hopefully everyone has switched out the BPA plastics, because they aren’t good for anyone, let alone someone trying to get pregnant. Engaging in stuff that will reduce stress is also good, so get your self-care game on
Totally agree with you but think about takeout containers–they are not all BPA free. 🙁 Thank you for reading!
I like the idea of BDA free idea and we need to follow that as well. Thank you for sharing these tips!
Agree, Fransic! Thanks for reading!
These are great tips and the resources you’ve included will help a lot of people.
Thank you for reading! I appreciate that! Xx