Complete 30-Day Guide for Successful IVF

 

Complete 30-Day Guide for Successful IVF

Your journey with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is about to begin, or it may already be underway. You're not alone, though; roughly 1 in 8 women require this additional assistance to become pregnant. IVF is frequently the greatest way to have a biological baby if you're ready to start a family or expand it and have explored all other fertility options.

What is IVF?

An egg and sperm are fertilised through IVF, which results in the development of an embryo into a young seedling. This occurs externally to your body. The embryo is then either frozen or put into your uterus, where it will hopefully develop into a pregnancy.

Possible side-effects of IVF

As you get ready to, start, and finish an IVF cycle, you could experience a range of emotions. There is a lot of anxiety, despair, and uncertainty. After all, IVF can be physically taxing, time-consuming, and expensive, all for the sake of a chance at conception. Plus, there are all these hormones. Regular doses for around two weeks can make you feel more emotional and throw off your body's natural rhythms.

So, the 30 days prior to your IVF cycle are crucial for ensuring that your body is robust, healthy, and properly prepared for this pretty demanding medical procedure. This will help you and your partner have the best chance of getting pregnant with IVF. You won't just make it through your IVF cycle with this guidance; you'll also thrive in it.

IVF Cycle

An IVF cycle involves passing through a number of stages. It is typical to require more than one IVF cycle before results are sustained. Here is a list of the phases and how long each one lasts:

1. Pre-IVF stage

Two to four weeks prior to the start of your IVF cycle, the prep stage begins. It entails making minor lifestyle adjustments to maintain your health.

To help you have a normal menstrual cycle, your doctor may prescribe certain drugs. This facilitates the beginning of the remaining IVF stages.

2. Stage 1

This phase just requires one day. The first day of your menstruation closest to the scheduled IVF procedure is Day 1 of your IVF. Yes, it is advantageous that your menstruation is starting now!

3. Stage 2

This phase can last for three to twelve days. You'll start using reproductive medications that arouse or awaken your ovaries. They become energised by this and release more eggs than usual.

4. Stage 3.

You'll receive an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin, sometimes referred to as the "pregnancy hormone" (hCG). This hormone aids in the egg release from your ovaries. You'll arrive at the fertility centre precisely 36 hours following the injection, where your doctor will collect or extract the eggs.

5. Stage 4.

This stage consists of two parts and lasts a day. Sperm will either already have been delivered by your spouse (or a donor) or will be provided while your eggs are being extracted.

In any case, the fertilised new eggs will hatch within hours. You'll start taking the hormone progesterone at this point. This hormone lowers the likelihood of a miscarriage and assists in preparing your womb for a healthy pregnancy.

6. Stage 5.

Your healthy embryo will be implanted in your womb less than a week after your eggs were removed. There will be no pain associated with this non-invasive process.

7. Stage 6

You'll be back in your doctor's office 9 to 12 days later. Your doctor will do a scan on you to evaluate how well your unborn child has settled into your womb. Additionally, a blood test will be performed to measure your pregnancy hormone levels.

Lifestyle advice for IVF

The lifestyle modifications that will provide your body with the optimum support during your IVC cycle, during pregnancy, and for your general health are covered below.

1. Eating Tips during IVF

During an IVF cycle, pay attention to eating wholesome, well-balanced meals. Avoid making any large or major changes during this time, such as quitting gluten if you weren't already. A Mediterranean-style diet is advised by reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh. The vibrant, plant-based foundation of it ought to give your body the good nutrition it needs.

In fact, studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet may increase the success rate of IVF in women under 35 who are not overweight or obese.

Even though the study was tiny, maintaining a healthy diet in the weeks before the cycle can't hurt. Encourage your partner to follow the Mediterranean diet with you as diet has an impact on sperm health as well.

Here are some quick tips for improving your diet with the Mediterranean diet:

·       Eat a good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.

·       You should pick lean proteins like poultry and fish.

·        Add to your diet grains like quinoa, farro, and pasta made from whole grains.

·       Beans, chickpeas, and lentils are among the pulses you can add to your diet.

·       Use low-fat dairy products instead.

·       You can have nutritious fats found in avocado, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

·       Steer clear of refined cereals, sugar, red meat, and other highly processed meals.

·       Eliminate salt. Instead, you can use herbs and spices to season food.

2. Work-out Routine during IVF

Many women who undergo IVF hesitate or stop exercising because they are concerned that working out could be harmful to a prospective pregnancy. Not to worry. Most women are able to keep up their fitness regimen.

Keep up the workout regime, advises Dr. Eyvazzadeh, especially if you already follow a regular exercise routine. If you have been exercising, have a healthy body mass index (BMI), and a healthy womb, she says that you should maintain doing so.

Eyvazzadeh does, however, advise that all IVF-undergoing women limit their weekly jogging mileage to no more than 15 miles. Your knees will also appreciate it! Running, she claims, interferes with our fertility more than any other form of exercise.

She explains that it might prevent the womb lining from thickening and divert blood away from the womb to muscles and other organs when the reproductive system most needs it.

If you're a serious runner, you should safely substitute:

·       Mild Jogging

·       Hiking

·       Spinning

·       Using elliptical machines

3. Products and Chemicals to Avoid

Some household products created with endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be worth throwing away or avoiding (EDCs).

EDC effects:

·       Hormones

·       Prenatal development

·       Reproductive health

Additionally, they are bad for your general health.

Common Chemicals to avoid and their source:

1. Formaldehyde

·       nail polish

2. Benzophenone, triclosan, and parabens

·       moisturisers

·       cosmetics

·       soap

3. BPA and other phenols

·       Food packaging components

·       Flame retardants made of bromine

·       Furnishings

·       Clothing

·       Electronics

·       mats for yoga

4. Perfluorinated substances

·       materials that withstand stains

·       non-stick kitchenware

5. Dioxins

·       Meat

·       Dairy

·       Clay used in arts

6. Phthalates

·       Plastic

·       pharmaceutical coatings

·       Cosmetics with fragrance

Medications to Avoid during IVF

Inform your fertility specialist of any medications you take as you are ready to begin your IVF cycle. Be sure to list everything, even the most common medications, such as:

·       a daily antihistamine

·       Ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) (Advil)

·       Any medication

·       OTC medications and supplements

Some drugs might potentially:

·       conflict with fertility medications

·       lead to abnormalities in hormones

·       lessen the effectiveness of IVF treatment

The following drugs should be avoided above all others. Ask your doctor whether there are any options that can be prescribed for you both throughout your IVF cycle and while you are pregnant.

Drugs to mention to your fertility doctor

·       Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Midol), and naproxen, which are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS) available both on prescription and over-the-counter (Aleve)

·       drugs like antidepressants that treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues

·       steroids, such as those prescribed to treat lupus or asthma

·       anticonvulsant drugs

·       thyroid drugs

·       cosmetics, particularly those with oestrogen or progesterone

·       chemotherapeutic drugs

Supplements to take during IVF

You might take a few organic vitamins to assist a fresh pregnancy. To enhance your folic acid, begin taking a prenatal vitamin 30 days (or even many months) before the start of your IVF cycle. This vitamin has a crucial role in preventing brain and spinal birth abnormalities in growing foetuses.

Even your partner's sperm health can be improved with the use of prenatal vitamins.

Additionally, fish oil, which can aid in embryonic growth, is advised by Dr. Eyvazzadeh. Start taking vitamin D pills before your IVF cycle if your levels are low. Autism may be caused by the mother's low vitamin D levels. dependable source

Keep in mind that unlike the FDA, which oversees pharmaceuticals, supplements are not subject to the same quality and purity standards. Before including supplements in your daily diet, always discuss them with your doctor.

Additionally, you can look for an NSF International certification on labels. This indicates that reputable, independent testing labs have deemed the product to be secure.

How many hours is advisable to sleep during IVF?

Fertility and sleep are tightly related. A healthy sleep schedule can help your IVF cycle. According to a 2013 study, women who sleep 7 to 8 hours per night are much more likely to become pregnant than women who sleep for less or more time.

Melatonin, a hormone that controls both sleep and reproduction, reaches its peak between nine o'clock and midnight, according to Dr. Eyvazzadeh. As a result, the best time to go to sleep is between 10 and 11 p.m.

Here are some strategies to include restful sleep into your daily routine:

·       Set the temperature in your bedroom to between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (16 and 19 degrees Celsius).

·       Just before going to bed, take a warm shower or a bath.

·       Use lavender room diffusers (or use them in the shower).

·       Take no caffeine for four to six hours before retiring.

·       Two to three hours before bedtime, stop eating.

·       To unwind, listen to quiet, mellow music like symphonic compositions.

·       Try to avoid using a screen at least 30 minutes before bed. That includes computers, TVs, and phones.

·       Stretch out gently before going to bed.

Sex During IVF

One of the greatest ironies of infertility is that the sex that should be producing these children is neither simple nor uncomplicated!

Men should refrain from manual or vaginal ejaculation three to four days before sperm retrieval, advises Dr. Eyvazzadeh. In contrast to sourcing "what's left" from a post-ejaculate sample, she emphasises that couples prefer to harvest the "whole pot full" of the best sperm.

But that does not imply complete celibacy. Couples can have passionate touch, or what she likes to refer to as "outercourse," she claims. So, feel free to screw around as long as the man isn't ejaculating during that crucial window for sperm growth.

Couples should avoid deep vaginal sex and keep penetration light, as this can irritate the cervix, according to her advice.

Can alcohol be consumed during IVF?

After enduring the emotional burden of IVF, you might feel like having a drink. If so, Dr. Eyvazzadeh has some excellent news. She claims that moderate drinking is doable. However, be aware that a few drinks throughout the week might have a detrimental impact on the success of the IVF cycle.

You could not react well to alcohol in addition to the reproductive medications. It might make you feel awful. According to 2011 research live birth rates were 21 per cent lower in women who consumed more than four drinks per week and 21 per cent lower when both couples did so.

Obviously, you should stop drinking all alcohol when the embryo transfer is finished.

How to handle IVF side effects?

One thing is clear despite how unpredictable an IVF cycle can be: a wide range of physical symptoms. There is no way to predict with certainty whatever side effect you will encounter on any given day of any given cycle because every woman and every cycle are unique.

Here are some strategies for reducing or even eliminating the negative effects of fertility medications.

Spotting or bleeding

·       If you experience bleeding or spotting throughout your cycle, call your doctor right away.

·       A small amount of bleeding or spotting following egg removal is typical. bleeding heavily is not.

·       Avoid using tampons.

Because the drugs employed not only aid in the growth of the eggs but also thicken the lining, Dr. Eyvazzadeh warns her patients that they should "anticipate the worst period of their lives after an IVF cycle."

Stomach and GI problems

For the treatment of digestive problems, many OTC solutions are available. Try consuming:

·       Gas-X

·       a stool softener, second

·       Tums

·       Pepto-Bismol

Bloating

Although it might seem paradoxical, drinking more fluids will help you feel less bloated. If drinking water is getting boring, hydrate with:

·       coconut water

·       electrolyte beverages or pills with less sugar

·       LiquidIV

Nausea

If home cures don't help, consider taking an anti-nausea drug, such as:

·       Pepto-Bismol

·       Dramamine

·       Emetrol

But first, make sure OTC anti-nausea medications are safe for you by speaking with your doctor.

Pain and a headache

Following are a few over-the-counter pain relievers:

·       ibuprofen (Motrin)

·       acetaminophen (Tylenol), and

·       heating pads

Speak with your doctor about the ideal dosage before using any over-the-counter medications.

Exhaustion and Sluggishness

·       Spend 7 to 8 hours a night in bed.

·       Aim to take 30- to 45-minute naps throughout the day.

·       Be careful not to overbook or overcommit. Take it easy (and refuse requests whenever you wish!)

Anxiety and Tension

·       Establish a steady, calming breathing routine.

·       Use the FertiCalm app to get help and constructive coping mechanisms.

·       Practice meditation using the Headspace app.

·       Engage in yoga. Here is our complete manual.

·       Keep up your workout routine.

·       Follow any established schedules and routines.

·       Obtain adequate rest.

·       Take warm baths or showers.

·       Consult a counsellor.

·       Enjoy sexual activity to increase happy hormones.

A hot flash

·       Dress in airy, lightweight attire.

·       Remain in places with air conditioning.

·       Place a fan at your workstation or bedside.

·       Drink cool water to stay hydrated.

Self-care during IVF

IVF preparation and recovery will probably rank among your most difficult life experiences. Mind over matter and making the most of unpleasant, painful, and inconvenient circumstances have a lot to recommend them. One of them is this.

It can be quite beneficial to begin taking care of yourself early and frequently. By doing this, some of the discomforts associated with an IVF cycle will be easier to manage and possibly possible to prevent. Here are a few pieces of advices:

·       Stay hydrated.

·       Sleep well and reward yourself with naps.

·       Purchase plenty of your preferred snacks.

·       interact with pals.

·       Take your partner out on a date.

·       Practice yoga or other calming routines.

·       Take a hot, lengthy bath.

·       Receive a massage.

·       Get your nails or feet done.

·       Peruse a book.

·       Take the day off.

·       Attend a movie.

·       Get yourself some flowers.

·       Keep a journal and keep tabs on your emotions.

·       Get a blowout or a haircut.

·       Get makeup applied.

·       Plan a picture session to capture this moment.

What should male partners do during IVF?

Your partner may not bear the bulk of the IVF cycle, but he is still a crucial cog in this machine. He will provide the most significant sperm sample of his life very soon. His diet, sleeping habits, and self-care are also crucial. Here are five ways your male spouse may assist you with IVF and make sure you two are on the same team:

Drinking less: According to a 2019 study, men who often drank alcohol led to the cycle's decreased effectiveness. Avoiding tobacco or cannabis smoking also helps.

Get more rest: The quality of sperm and testosterone levels can be impacted by not obtaining enough sleep (at least 7 to 8 hours per night).

Avoid chemicals: A 2019 study revealed that some pollutants and chemicals can potentially have a negative impact on men's hormones. It might affect sperm quality. Keep your home as clear of toxins as you can by having your man throw away dangerous items.

Do or don't wear underwear: In the boxers vs. briefs controversy, a 2016 study found no discernible change in the quality of the semen.

Exercise and a healthy diet: The quality of sperm obtained during IVF can be improved by a decreased BMI and appropriate general nutrition.

Be encouraging: The most crucial thing a partner can do for you is to be present. You may rely on them to chat, listen, cuddle, help with needles, handle appointments, be proactive about pain medicine, and pick up the slack. Simply put, be the kind and encouraging person you fell in love with.