Tips to Increase Your Chances of IVF Success
When it comes to the world of In vitro fertilization (IVF), people are more concerned about the success rate and how they can increase the chances of conceiving. Here we will see the journey of IVF and the factors that affect the success rate of IVF. We will give some tips too, to increase the chances of conceiving during IVF.
Stages of IVF treatment -
IVF lets fertilization happen outside the body in a special laboratory called the embryology lab. During IVF treatment, mature eggs from the intended mother or pre-arranged egg donor are extracted from the ovaries. The extracted eggs then are fertilized by the sperm of the intended father or pre-arranged sperm donor. Once fertilized, the egg is placed back in the woman's uterus. If implantation is successful, the woman gets pregnant.
The entire IVF procedure involves many stages. Here is the breakdown of those stages:
- Preparation - 2-4 weeks before your IVF treatment, your fertility team or doctor may recommend certain lifestyle changes to increase your chances of getting pregnant. At this stage, your Healthcare team may recommend some further medication to get your menstrual cycle on time. This stage makes the further process of IVF treatment easier.
- Beginning of IVF procedure - Referred to as day 1, this stage begins with the first day of the menstrual cycle. This stage takes just a day.
- Ovarian Stimulation - This stage takes anywhere from 3 to 12 days in which your doctor prescribes some fertility medications. You will start taking these prescribed fertility drugs or medication to stimulate your ovaries to release more eggs than normal.
- Trigger Injection - At this stage, your doctor will give you an injection containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This injection is also known as pregnancy hormone helps your body to release eggs. Thus making it easier for your doctor to retrieve them.
- Egg retrieval and semen collection - At this stage, women's eggs are retrieved, and at the same time, semen is also collected from their male partner or prearranged sperm donor. Fresh eggs are fertilized by the sperm in the embryology lab. On one hand, fertilization takes place and on the other, women are given progesterone which prepares their uterus and body for a healthy pregnancy and reduces the chance of miscarriage.
- Implantation - The fertility team will implant the embryo in a women's uterus within a week of having your eggs harvested (known as ‘implantation day’). This is a non-invasive procedure but you may feel slight cramping. Most women do not feel any discomfort but if you do, simply contact your fertility team.
- Pregnancy test - Approximately 9 to 12 days later, you have to attend a follow-up visit to your doctor's office. They will give you a scan and perform a blood test to determine if the pregnancy has occurred.
Typically one full IVF cycle takes almost 3 weeks. Sometimes it requires more than one IVF cycle for a successful pregnancy.
Tips to increase your chances of IVF success -
Every woman wants to achieve pregnancy in their first attempt of the IVF cycle. Increasing your chances of getting pregnant in the first attempt of the IVF cycle can benefit your pocket. There are various ways to increase the chances of conceiving by IVF procedure including through your diet, exercise, sex life, stress levels, and more.
Let's go deeper into it!
- Healthy diet - Many experts do not recommend any drastic change in your diet throughout your IVF cycle. However, before you begin IVF, make sure that you are taking a healthy and balanced meal. Researchers found that those taking a healthy diet at least 6 months before IVF had a 65-68% greater chance of achieving a successful pregnancy.
- Maintain a healthy weight - weight is a great factor for IVF success rate. Being obese or underweight increases the time of conception by 2 and 4 times respectively, and negatively affects IVF success rates.
- Partner with an excellent doctor and embryology laboratory - The fertility clinic is equally important as the available technology and lab apparatus will predetermine your success rate to a great degree. Choose an excellent reproductive endocrinologist that has experienced and committed doctors who will accompany you on this very emotional journey. It is important for you to feel supported and heard during the IVF cycle. Make sure that you are choosing an excellent fertility centre that has a high rate of success among all patients.
- Reduce your stress - Do not take much stress. Keep your mind free from all stress. Several reports suggest that acupuncture and other stress-relieving techniques improve pregnancy outcomes.
- Modify your lifestyle - you need to be psychologically healthy to have a positive influence on your IVF cycle. Quit smoking and alcohol. Smoking affects eggs and sperm quality and can drastically decrease the chances of pregnancy via IVF. Reduce the consumption of junk food and exercise daily before opting for IVF. Research shows that exercise increases the chances of conceiving via IVF.
- Pay attention to health supplements - Your intake of health supplements including iron, folate and calcium influence the success rate of IVF. Talk to your doctor as well as your IVF expert about the adequate dosage and blood tests to determine the correct level of vitamins and essential minerals in your body.
IVF is not a one-day success story. Some couples have to try more than one cycle to get pregnant. Sometimes you need to be more patient than others. Follow your doctor's advice properly. Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. Don't take much stress. Have patience and don't give up, follow the above-discussed tips for a successful IVF procedure in the first attempt. You can go for fertility treatment in Canada as it has some of the best fertility centres.
So take it easy. Be calm and relaxed. listen to soothing music and do some light exercises, while the best fertility clinic with the best doctors takes care of the rest during your IVF journey!