Making heart shape by couples from hand in woman wound - How to prepare for IVF concept
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IVF

How to Prepare For IVF: Tips for a Successful IVF Journey

Having children is one of the major events many of us go through in life. Sometimes, even if he or she desires to be a parent, due to certain reasons related to fertility, this desire may remain incomplete. The good news here is that there are many ways to counter these problems. Among many such ways, IVF treatment is a popular choice. After all, IVF has a high success rate and is relatively affordable. But you cannot just start the IVF process whenever you want to. There are a few aspects you must prepare for. The question here is how would you get ready for IVF?

In this blog, we are going to look into what IVF is, the process involved in doing IVF, why it is important to prepare your body prior to doing IVF, and how best to prepare for a successful IVF process.

What is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

What is ivf- how to prepare for ivf concept
IVF or In Vitro Fertilization is the medical process of extracting an egg from the female uterus, followed by artificial insemination in the laboratory. After achieving a certain stage of fertilization, the resultant eggs are implanted in the uterus to complete the conception process naturally. During this process, the reproductive experts only select the best eggs and sperm for fertilization, which increases the success rate of this process. Because of this boosted success rate, this process is not just preferred by those with fertility issues but also by couples with no fertility issues as well.

How does the IVF Process Work?

Having gone through the definition of the IVF process, now, let's speak briefly about its process. Well, the thing is, the particular process of IVF depends upon your particular case. All said and done, we are in a position to tell you about the general process of IVF.

The general steps of the IVF process include the following:

  • Ovarian Stimulation: This is the process where experts inject hormones to stimulate the ovaries in order to release multiple eggs.
  • Egg Retrieval: This is done when, after stimulation of the ovary and maturation of the eggs, they are retrieved using a minimal invasive surgical procedure.
  • Fertilization: After that, the retrieved eggs are put into a solution with sperms in a laboratory and allowed to get fertilized. It is during this stage that the experts might incorporate other ways of fertilization, like ICSI, to aid the process.
  • Embryo Culture: The fertilized eggs remain under special conditions of nourishment to develop into embryos.
  • Embryo Transfer: After the eggs develop into an embryo, they are transferred into the woman's uterus for pregnancy.

As mentioned previously, while the specifics may vary, this is the general procedure for IVF.

Want to Know More About How IVF Works? : How IVF Works: A Step-by-Step Guide to In Vitro Fertilization

Why is it Important to Prepare Your Body For IVF?

Doctor checking pregnant lady womb - how to prepare for ivf concept

Now that you have some idea as to what IVF is and its procedural structure, let's briefly discuss the importance of body preparation for IVF before actually going into it. So, why is it important to prepare your body for IVF? The simple answer is that a healthy body and a healthy mind are ideal for IVF success. While you cannot control the success rates by much, you can prepare your body for it. Some of the major reasons for preparation of your body for IVF are as follows:

  • Good overall health will enhance one's chances for a successful IVF cycle. Generally, it consists of having an overall healthy weight and managing chronic conditions.
  • Secondly, proper bodily preparation improves the quantity and quality of the eggs.
  • Having a healthy body reduces complications such as OHSS and enhances success.
  • A healthy body also improves the uterine lining. This part of the body is extremely important for embryo implantation and the success of pregnancy.
  • Another major reason is that a healthy body ensures a healthy mind, which usually ensures less stress. This helps further in the IVF process.

These are just some of the key reasons why it is very important for the body to be healthy in the process of IVF.

Also Read: How Long Is the IVF Process? Key Stages Explained

How Can You Prepare For Successful IVF?

Women wraping infant leg from hand - how to prepare for ivf concept

After discussing what IVF is, its process and why the healthy body is important for IVF, now finally let's discuss how you can prepare for successful IVF treatment. The good news here is that there are many steps you can take to increase the odds of IVF success rate. Although it already does have a high success rate, it is never a bad idea to enhance it more. So, how can you prepare for successful IVF? Some of the key steps you can take include:

1. Eat a healthy and balanced diet 

One of the best steps one can take to prepare for IVF is to have a healthy and well-nourishing food intake. Healthy nutrition will not only supply you with all the needed nutrients, but it also has the power to enhance egg and sperm health, provided this is done right. And here comes a question from some of you-maybe there are some recommended foods to be taken while preparing?  The answer is "yes, there are".

A. Food to Accelerate Ovulation For Female

These categories of foods are targeted towards women and are designed to enhance the ovulation aspect. These specific targeted foods nourish the womb and slow the degeneration of eggs. Some of these foods include:

  • Include green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and broccoli.
  • Add potatoes, soybeans, soy milk, and black sesame seeds.
  • Choose whole grains such as brown rice, whole grain bread, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa.
  • Incorporate legumes like soybeans, peas, kidney beans, fava beans, winged beans, green beans, and lentils.
  • Enjoy berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries.
  • Consume eggs, milk, and yoghurt.
  • Avoid foods high in sugar or fat, as well as processed or packaged foods—focus on fresh, whole foods instead.
  • Include bananas and tomatoes in your diet.
  • Opt for fish like salmon and sardines.
  • Use healthy fats from avocado and olive oil.

B. Food For Better Male Reproductive Health

In a similar vein as the foods that boost the ovary's health, there are foods that enhance the reproductive health of men. These foods are designed to enhance the male reproductive health, aid in the production of motile and healthy sperm, and increase sperm volume. Some of the key foods for enhancing reproductive health include:

  • Include soybeans, red beans, fava beans, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds.
  • Consume eggs as part of your diet.
  • Tomatoes, garlic, oysters, and beef
  • Consume banana and pomegranate
  • Berries including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries as well as blackberries
  • Consume chocolate but in a small amount

2. Reduce Intake of Caffeine

One other crucial factor that will help you in preparing for IVF treatment is the reduction in caffeine intake. While moderate consumption of caffeine is fine, overindulgence of caffeine products such as coffee and cola drinks can harm pregnancy. Overindulgence in caffeine affects hormones, blood pressure, and heartbeat rate. Heavy changes to these aspects of the body can have a negative effect on the fetus.

3. Improve Sleep Quality

Once you reduce the consumption of caffeine, you should have an improved quality of sleep. As you may know, caffeine lowers the ability to get good sleep. However, people often underestimate the power of sleep. Not only does it allow your mind and body to rest, but it also aids in the healing of wounds and allows your body to extract nutrients from the foods. The combination of a well-rested mind and body, fastened healing, and effective utilization of nutrients aids in the positive development of ovaries, sperm, and fetus.

4. Sperm Enhancement

Sperm - how to prepare for ivf concept

Besides food and body, another obvious key factor determining the success rate of IVF is sperm quality. The good news here is that you can strengthen your sperm. Some of the ways how you can get sperm include:

  • Maintaining a healthy BMI
  • Exercising regularly
  • Avoiding smoking or drinking
  • Getting adequate sleep
  • Keeping the testicles cool
  • Furthermore, you should also drink plenty of water and take supplements such as A, B12, C, E, selenium, and zinc.

Know More About: Low Sperm Count: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

5. Take Fertility Supplements

Preparing for IVF is not just about maintenance; it is also about improvement as well. One of the best ways to improve your chances is to take some supplements. While it is not a natural method, it is indeed an effective one. Among many supplements you can take, two of the key ones include:

A. Folic Acid

It is an essential supplement that doctors advise you to take around three months before conception and during pregnancy. This supplement promotes the health of the embryo, prevents brain damage, aids in pregnancy and improves IVF success.

B. Vitamin D

The best way to get vitamin D is to bask moderately in the sun. However, it is at times not possible. Therefore, you can complement the lack of vitamin D by taking the recommended supplement. Experts often prescribe this supplement after clinical examinations as it has many benefits.
Do note that while taking supplements does help you in preparing for the IVF, it should not be done without

6. Regular Exercise

Girl exercising - how to prepare for ivf concept

Besides taking supplements, you can also improve IVF chances through regular exercise. Regular exercise not only allows your body to maintain a healthy weight but also maintains your stamina and bodily strength. Furthermore, regular exercise also keeps your hormones well balanced as well. All of these aspects are important factors when considering measures such as IVF.

7. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Consumption

If you plan on staying healthy, just exercising is not enough; you must also refrain from smoking and alcohol. Let's be honest here: smoking and drinking are not healthy for your body in general. This is especially amplified when you are preparing for IVF, as overconsumption of alcohol and smoking can lead to infertility degrading the quality of sperm and eggs. Furthermore, they can also go in deep and damage the DNA itself, further lessening the chances of implantation.

8. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Girl being depressed - how to prepare for ivf concept

Preparing for IVF is not just about maintaining your physical health; it is also about mental health as well. If you stress too much and have high anxiety, it often changes the hormonal balance in your body, which can lessen the chances of IVF success. Furthermore, stress also weakens the immune system, which further lowers the chances of IVF success rates. Furthermore, taking care of your mental health also provides you with the strength to complete the IVF cycle and not leave it in between. All of these factors further highlight why taking care of mental health is important for IVF success.

9. Refrain From Sexual Intercourse 3-4 Days Before the Sperm Collection

Although you practically have unlimited sperm, as the male body produces new sperm throughout life, it is always a good idea not to engage in sexual intercourse 3 to 4 days before sperm collection. This is because abstinence for a few days can improve sperm concentration in the semen. This further ensures that you have higher-quality sperm for fertilization during the process of IVF.

10. Avoid exposure to chemicals or heavy metals.

Aside from taking good care of your body, you also have to be mindful about avoiding chemicals and heavy metals exposure. Being exposed to heavy chemicals and metals can damage your eggs or sperm, whichever is applicable for the type of chemical used. Also, it may interfere with the balance of your hormones. More precisely, this chemical and metal exposure can affect the endocrine system, which regulates the essential hormones for conception. Specific chemicals can also increase the chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus as well. When all of these aspects are combined, it paints a scary image. Needless to say, you should avoid exposure to harmful chemicals to prepare for IVF.

Recommended Blog: What to Do After IVF Implantation: Dos and Don’ts Explained

Why Hardik IVF For Your IVF Treatment?

So, by now, you should have a general idea about what to do to prepare for IVF. The question now is where to get the best IVF treatment. The good news here is that you have many options to choose from. Even better news is that among any such options, you can also choose Hardik IVF and Fertility Center, the leading IVF center in Nepal. But why Hardik IVF for your IVF treatment? The most obvious answer is that Hardik is one of the best IVF centers in Nepal. But besides this, there are several other answers to why you should choose Hardik. Some of the key ones include:

  • We have experienced specialists and a track record of successful outcomes.
  • We also provide you with comprehensive IVF services ranging from counseling and diagnostic tests to specialized treatment plans and support for different fertility issues.
  • We use state-of-the-art technologies and modern facilities to ensure the success of IVF treatments.
  • We offer emotional and psychological support along with physical support, ensuring that you get through the IVF process without any form of remaining issues, be it emotional or physical.
  • We also offer you personalized care depending on the specifics of your circumstances. For this, we consider your physical, mental, and reproductive health.
  • We also have relatively high success rates for IVF.
  • Additionally, we also provide affordable IVF and other fertility options.

These are just some of the key reasons why you should choose Hardik IVF and Fertility Center for your IVF treatment.

Conclusion 

IVF is doubtlessly one of the best ways to enhance the success rate of your fertilization. It is a popular treatment option both for those suffering from infertility and also for those who wish to increase the chances of successful fertilization. Before you get started with the process, there are a couple of things that you really need to look into, such as, though not limited to, physical and mental health. The good news is that one can actually prepare themselves for the IVF process. Some of these ways include taking supplements, eating healthily, keeping good physical health, and being away from harmful chemicals and consumables. In this blog, we discussed what an IVF is, the IVF process, why it is important to prepare your body for IVF, and how one should prepare for a successful IVF process.

We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various aspects of IVF, do check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best IVF service in Nepal, look no further than Hardik IVF and Fertility Center.

Also read:

FAQs on Preparing for Successful IVF Treatment

1. Is IVF painful?

Generally speaking, no IVF is painful. The worst you may feel, unless under any specific medical conditions, is slight discomfort or some mild cramps after the treatment. Always a good thing to consult an expert before making any decision, though.

2. How do I prepare for a successful IVF treatment?

Success with the treatment of IVF can be prepared through several means. Some of the most critical steps include the following:

  • Having a healthy and balanced diet
  • Ensuring limited consumption of caffeine
  • Improving the quality of sleep
  • Undergoing sperm enhancement
  • Taking fertility vitamins like folic acid and Vitamin D
  • Regular exercising
  • No smoking or alcohol consumption
  • Take good care of your mental health
  • Abstain from sexual intercourse for 3 to 4 days prior to sperm collection
  • Avoid heavy metal and chemical exposure

3. What should I do Before IVF treatment?

Some of the things that you could do before going for IVF treatment would be the following:

  • Healthy and Balanced Diet: Consume healthy, nutritious food in varieties.
  • Cutting down on Caffeine: Cut down on the caffeine intake.
  • Improving Sleep: Make sure that you sleep properly and get sufficient sleep.
  • Sperm Improvement: You may consult regarding sperm improvement.
  • Take fertility vitamins: Take folic acid and Vitamin D as guided.
  • Do exercises: Keep doing routine exercises.
  • Avoid smoking and alcohol: Avoid smoking and taking alcohol.
  • Take care of Mental Health: follow the tips to keep your mental health well.
  • No sex: Keep abstinence for 3 or 4 days before the collection of sperm.
  • Keep away from toxic substances: Prevent the exposure of heavy metals and chemicals.

4. How do women prepare for IVF?

There are a few things women can do in preparation for IVF. Some of the major ones to consider include:

  • Healthy Diet: You should eat a variety of healthy foods.
  • Good Quality Sleep: Take enough good-quality sleep.
  • Fertility Supplements: Take folic acid and vitamin D supplements as advised.
  • Regular Exercise: Engage yourself in regular physical exercises.
  • Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol.
  • Support Mental Health: It would be great if you took some positive steps to control and improve your mental health.
  • Avoid Exposure to Toxins: keep away from heavy metals and chemicals.

5. What not to do before IVF?

Before the start of the IVF process, there are certain things that you need to stay away from. Some key steps which you must stay away from have been mentioned below;

  • Avoid smoking and alcohol
  • Intake of caffeine should be restricted
  • Taking drugs must be avoided
  • You must avoid chemical exposure
  • Try avoiding the situations where you face stress
  • There are certain medications, which your doctor might ask to avoid.
  • Abstain from sexual intercourse a few days before sperm collection

6. What are the 5 stages of IVF?

The specific process of IVF is based on your unique situation. However, there are five general stages. They include:

  1. Ovary stimulation
  2. Egg retrieval
  3. Fertilization
  4. Embryo development
  5. Embryo implantation

7. What can I do to increase my IVF Success?

Improvement of IVF success rates can be achieved in various ways. Key steps to be considered while doing so include the following:

  • Eat a Balanced Diet: Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
  • Exercise Regularly: Perform regular physical activity based on overall health and well-being.
  • Reach and Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being both underweight and overweight impairs IVF success.
  • Take fertility supplements: Take a supplement that contains folic acid and vitamin D, among any other nutrient recommended by the health provider.
  • Practice stress-reduction techniques: This could include yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises.
  • Do not smoke or drink alcohol: both will have adverse effects on fertility and the success of conception treatments.
  • Avoid recreational drugs: they can have a bad, sometimes damagingly so, effect on reproductive health.
  • Try to reduce caffeine intake: for the betterment of overall health and, in turn, with child conception.

8. How to improve egg quality for IVF?

Improving egg quality for IVF involves a process that includes a combination of lifestyle changes you make and adjustment to your diet, among other medical interventions you might go through. Some of the ways you can improve your egg quality include the following:

  • Consuming nutrient-rich foods and adding food rich in antioxidants to your diet
  • Taking fertility supplements like folic acid and Vitamin D
  • Regular Exercise and enough sleep
  • Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
  • Staying away from toxic materials and heavy metals

9. How much does IVF cost?

Its exact cost is dependent upon your case. However, at Hardik IVF you will be able to get IVF treatment at a very affordable range starting from Npr 2,50,000 to Npr 4,00,000.

10. What is the success rate of IVF in Nepal?

The success rates of IVF are dependent on many factors. However, taking the IVF services from Hardik IVF may extend from 70 to 80 percent.