All About IVF
In Vitro Fertilization or IVF is a complicated process that highly depends on timing and accuracy. The success rate of pregnancy through IVF is 15-20%. But there are a few things that can help in improving the chances of an IVF pregnancy. And those are listed here.
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Diet
We are what we eat. And especially during or before the IVF cycle, try to maintain healthy eating habits. Avoid junk food. Do not make any major changes in your diet, like going gluten or sugar-free. One of the studies shows that eating a rainbow diet that is eating colorful vegetables increase the success rate of IVF pregnancy in women.
This rule is not only applicable for women but men too can stick to a rainbow diet to improve sperm health.
Some of the common food items other than fruits and vegetables that need to be included in the diet are fish, poultry, whole grain, and legumes. Healthy fats are important along with low-fat dairy products.
Avoid red meat and highly processed food, flavored or spicy food. Cut down on salt.
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Workout
Women going through IVF usually avoid or minimize exercise, thinking that hitting the gym may be harmful to future pregnancy. But this is a myth! Pregnant women are often advised to exercise and keep their bodies moving. And IVF pregnancy is not an exception. Women in between IVF cycles or in their trimesters can opt for simple exercises such as stretching and jogging.
Yoga is highly recommended as it has asanas (positions) specially designed for pregnant women.
Regular exercising benefits our body and in turn the chances of IVF pregnancy.
But remember to avoid rigorous running and heavy exercises as it has negative effects on the thickening of the womb lining, which is crucial while conceiving a child.
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Meditation and reduce Stress levels
Even though it may not come as a surprise, stress has a lot to do with our bodies. It’s not just a mental phenomenon, stress affects every part of our body including our reproductive health. So couples going through or planning an IVF need to de-stress. Meditation is the easiest and best way to de-stress.
Understandably, the couples going through IVF may worry about the procedure and its success. But they also need to understand that its success depends majorly upon themselves and their bodies.
Meditation allows optimum functioning of the body and the various breathing exercises may reduce the stress levels and increase the chances of IVF pregnancy.
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Chemicals and Drugs to avoid
Pregnancy is a hormonal affair be it natural pregnancy or through IVF. Hormones play an important role in the conception and development of the embryo to a fetus.
Certain drugs have affected our hormonal levels, they increase or decrease the secretion of certain hormones. For example Birth Control Pills, or pain killers, etc.
Before starting an IVF cycle it is extremely important to discuss the use of medicines and drugs with your doctor. It is advised for women to tell their doctor their medical history and drugs or medication they consume on regular basis.
The doctor may make certain alterations in the consumption of these items, which will increase the success rate of IVF.
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Sleep
Are you sleeping on time? An average adult needs at least 7-8 hours of sleep. But usually, we hardly get sound sleep for more than 5 to 6 hours. Women conceiving through IVF need to have a strict bed schedule. While it is advisable to be tucked in bed by 9 pm we all know our lifestyle won’t allow that. So anything between 10 pm -11 pm is a good time to head to bed.
The research found significantly more chances of women getting pregnant through IVF if they had a well-rested mind and body.
Avoid caffeine at least 4-6 hours before bed and strictly no screen-time 30 minutes before bed.
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Embryo Transfer
This is believed to be the most critical step of IVF when an embryo is transferred back into the woman’s uterus. This step needs high precision and even the slightest mistake can lead to miscarriage or IVF failure. The odds of a woman conceiving a child through the very first IVF cycle are close to 29%. Also, it depends on her health and medical history.
Most of the IVF failures are due to misplacement of embryos, in the fallopian tube or out of the uterus.
The chances of a successful IVF pregnancy also depend on the doctor, so consult an expert.
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Gather Information
It may have nothing to do with your body. But the more knowledge you have about the IVF process the more aware you will be about its dos and don’ts, the greater is the chance of success. Do your homework and select the best center for IVF. Being well informed is the key.
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Avoid Ejaculation and Penetrate Sex if possible
Men are advised to avoid ejaculation before the process of sperm collection as we need the best quality sperm for IVF. Also, Penetrate sex before and during the IVF cycle may irritate the cervix. Shallow penetration is allowed, but doctors suggest avoiding it for the best results.
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Talk to a counselor
This may not seem necessary but as you go through an IVF process, you know that conception through any assisted pregnancy method is difficult. It may take a toll on your mental and physical health.
Talking to a counselor may ease a lot of mental stress. Also make sure you get the constant support of your spouse, friends, and family throughout the process.
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Preparatory tests
There is a series of tests that need to be done before going for an IVF. Make sure you do all of them with the consultation of your doctor. These tests make sure that both partners are physically ready for conception through IVF and a green signal from all these tests increases the success rate of IVF.
There are a few things a couple going through IVF can follow for a better chance of pregnancy.
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