Everything You Need to Know Before You Do IVF

What is In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)?

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART). The eggs are retrieved from a woman's ovaries and are fertilised with sperm. The fertilised egg is known as an embryo and is then either frozen for storage or transferred to the woman's uterus. IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology. The procedure can be done using a couple's eggs and sperm or it can also involve eggs, sperm or embryos from a donor.

10 Things You Should Know About IVF

There is a lot of misconception regarding IVF treatments in the air. With these 10 points, we will try our best to ensure all your doubts are solved once and for all. Here are a few things you should know before you decide to go ahead with IVF:

1. Infertility isn't as uncommon as you would think.

Women's fertility decreases with increasing age because the quality of eggs reduces, so couples tend to seek IVF treatment more than you can imagine. According to statistics, more than 12% of women between 15 to 49 have fertility issues.

2. IVF can be a time-consuming procedure.

A woman's cycle is normally about 28 days long, but an IVF cycle can take much longer than that. The woman must call the fertility clinic on the first day of her period. On day two or three the woman must visit the clinic for blood work and an ultrasound. At that appointment, she'll be given a prescription for birth control, which she usually takes for about two weeks. Then come to the shots. Typically a woman will give herself a shot every day for 10 to 12 days. The eggs are then retrieved and fertilised. This procedure can get a little time consuming but is worth it in the end.

3. Acupuncture can increase your IVF success rate.

A study suggests that 3 sessions of acupuncture before embryo transfer increases the chances of conceiving. It also suggests that acupuncture significantly reduces anxiety associated with embryo transfer.

4. Eggs harvested do not equal eggs fertilised.

To ensure your eggs give everything required to produce a healthy embryo, they will be carefully screened by your doctor. So, although your doctor may harvest 10 to 20 eggs, it may be that only a small portion of these can be used to create embryos for IVF transfer.

5. Healthy sleep habits make for better IVF cycles.

A good night's sleep regularly increases the success rates of IVF cycles. Women who get too little (less than 5 hours a night) or too much (10 hours or more) sleep each night have lower IVF success rates than women who get an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

6. IVF can be of different types.

There are many types of IVF techniques used today, including natural IVF, mild IVF, and high drug-intensive IVF. Your doctor will suggest a suitable IVF after examining your condition.

7. Be ready for multiple cycle treatments.

If you're thinking of opting for an IVF treatment you need to be ready for multiple cycles as it is not a one-time procedure. As the number of IVF cycles increases, the chances of pregnancy and fertility also increase.

8. Your IVF efforts are worth it.

The bottom line of all of this is that every IVF effort is worth it, no matter how draining or expensive it can get, so don't let anybody tell you that you are just wasting your time and money. It is very brave of you to try everything possible to start your family.

9. Hospital selection can highly impact IVF success rates.

A highly reputable hospital must be selected as it can affect the success rate of IVF. We highly recommend DPU IVF & Endoscopy Center, Pimpri if you are looking for the best doctors in the city to help you start your family.

What Steps To Take Before IVF?

The prep stage begins 2 to 4 weeks before you start your IVF cycle. It includes making small lifestyle changes to make sure you're at your healthiest. During an IVF cycle, focus on eating healthy, balanced meals. It is recommended to not make any major or significant changes during this time.

Let us run you through a few basic pointers to keep in mind before starting your IVF journey:

• Prioritise your health before starting IVF treatment
• Manage your stress levels (think: yoga, meditation, therapy)
• Get enough sleep each night (8 hours is optimal)
• Take your prenatal vitamins
• Be proactive and ask your questions to your doctor

How Do I Prepare My Body for IVF?

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment can be both physically and emotionally demanding, but there are steps you can take to prepare yourself for the IVF journey and maximise your chances of a successful, healthy pregnancy:

• - Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
• - Maintain a healthy weight.
• - Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and recreational drugs.
• - Avoid travel to any countries or regions that may put you at risk.
• - Reduce or eliminate your caffeine intake.

Foods to Avoid During IVF

Before starting with the IVF Diet you need to know this; there is no proven result of what you eat helps you with infertility treatment however what you eat has a relation to your health and that affects the healthy egg or sperm. Once you have decided to go for IVF treatment, start monitoring your diet. It is seen that obesity or too low body weight affects fertility adversely and reduces the success rate of IVF. So, starting with an excellent diet will be a great option to fight these issues. Paying attention to your diet and essential nutrients will help your body to carry pregnancy easily.

Here is a list of foods you should avoid for a healthy pregnancy:

• - Eggs in raw form
• - Artificial Sweeteners
• - Refined Sugars
• - Seafood
• - Alcohol
• - Caffeine

Do You Need to Prepare for IVF?

IVF can seem like a daunting experience especially when you're not sure how to prepare for it. it is important to start preparing your mind and body for it straight away, as it may help with a more successful result. As you want to make sure your eggs and sperm are in the best possible health, adopting healthy habits is one of the steps that should be taken straight away when preparing for IVF. Firstly, we recommend looking into your diet and making sure it is well balanced and you're getting enough nutrients to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and body weight.

Another great way to improve your physical health is by exercising. Exercising also has a positive impact on mental health – it reduces stress and anxiety and it positively influences the mood.

Summary

It's all worth it in the end!! IVF can be scary, expensive and emotionally draining but the entire procedure is worth the effort and time invested in it. IVF is no longer considered a taboo. Couples are open to discussing it and want to do everything in their power to start the family they've always wanted.

We're here to make your dreams of raising a family come true!

IVF is a journey and we're here to support you every step of the way. At the end of the day, we want to see you walk out of our hospital with bright smiles plastered all over your faces. To know more about IVF treatments at DPU IVF & Endoscopy Center visit us or Contact us to book your appointment today.