How to Increase Your Chances of Success with IVF

Before we begin this blog, we want to say we're sorry you're reading this. If so, it probably means having a baby hasn't been easy so far. It could also mean you're about to start, or already are, IVF. We know how physically, emotionally, and stressful it can be. We want to say we understand and that we're here to help.

Everyone's experience is different, and there's no magic formula for success. We wish there was. While IVF procedures are improving every year and the success rate is very encouraging, we acknowledge that even if you do everything perfectly, IVF might not result in a baby. We sincerely hope that's not the case for you.

In this blog post, we've tried to include real, practical advice to help you with your IVF treatments. Some advice focuses on lifestyle changes that can support IVF. Other tips address the practical and logistical aspects of IVF that you may not have considered. Whether you're just starting out or are already on your fifth round of IVF, we hope you find it helpful.

Adjustments in your lifestyle

There are several things you can do to support your IVF treatments. For the most part, these lifestyle adjustments are the same as those you'd make if you were trying to conceive naturally. So, if you've been trying for a while, you can skip the next section. If you're new to IVF, you might find this helpful.

Getting pregnant and your body weight

We know that being overweight or underweight affects IVF success rates. Being overweight or underweight can lead to irregular cycles and fewer ovulations. Being overweight also makes it difficult to monitor your ovaries during IVF and increases the risk of complications during egg placement.

You can often achieve a healthy weight by changing what you eat and how you exercise. If you need help, consider working with a personal trainer or dietitian.

What is a healthy body weight?

Traditionally, BMI (Body Mass Index) was often used to determine whether someone had a "healthy" weight. This measure helps determine body fat. But BMI is doubted by many scientists.

• The number says nothing about Where your fat is located. Belly fat, for example, causes more health problems than fat around the hips, buttocks, or legs. Waist circumference is therefore an important metric to consider.
• BMI also doesn't take fat mass versus muscle mass into account. Someone who weighs a lot because they have a lot of muscle can therefore have a higher BMI.

So always look at your Waist circumference as a supplement. Your waist circumference indicates the amount of fat in your abdominal cavity, which is more indicative of your health risk than your BMI. A healthy waist circumference for women is ideally between 68 and 80 centimeters.

Focus on nutritious eating and consider a supplement

A balanced and nutritious diet during your IVF treatments can also increase your chances of success.

It's also a good idea to focus on certain types of food. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health looked at the fat consumption of 147 women undergoing IVF and found that those who consumed a high amount of monounsaturated fat were 3.4 times more likely to conceive through IVF.

You can find monounsaturated fats in foods like avocados, nuts, and seeds. You can also take a high-quality supplement with sustainable omega-3s.

It may also be a good idea to add a multivitamin supplement to your diet to support your hormonal health and ensure you have a good balance of vitamins and minerals in your body.

Look for vitamin D supplements, as a large percentage of people (40%) are deficient, and there's growing evidence that insufficient vitamin D is linked to fertility problems and poor IVF outcomes. Therefore, it's wise to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels.

In addition, it is recommended to take folic acid . Folic acid is usually used by women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. It increases the mother's folate status. A low maternal folate status is a risk factor for the development of neural tube defects (the spine or skull not closing properly) in the developing fetus.

Want to learn more about folic acid? Check out our blog post here: Everything you need to know about folic acid .

Reduce stress (if you can…)

An IVF process can be stressful, so this advice may seem cliché, but it's important to try it anyway. Stress levels can affect your conception. Several studies show better pregnancy outcomes when both men and women actively reduce their stress levels.

When your body is stressed, it produces cortisol (your stress hormone). To produce more cortisol, your body will essentially "steal" progesterone, causing your progesterone levels to drop. And when this happens, it can throw your hormonal balance off.

For example, try taking on fewer projects at work and reduce your social obligations.

If you can't take a step back, try finding ways to manage your stress. Consider acupuncture, yoga, meditation, mindfulness programs, or another stress management course.

Take a critical look at your habits

Do you smoke? Do you watch TV late at night? Do you drink a lot of coffee or wine? These are definitely habits to change. Smoking can drastically reduce the chances of IVF success because it affects the quality of both eggs and sperm.

Lack of sleep can also be a problem. Couples undergoing IVF are advised to get about 7-8 hours of sleep each night to improve results.

Additionally, it's a good idea to avoid drinking too much caffeine and alcohol. Some studies show that these can reduce your success rate.

Want to learn more about the impact coffee can have on your cycle? Read our blog post about it: The Effect of Coffee on Your Cycle .

Practical tips for during an IVF process

When discussing IVF tips, lifestyle changes are often discussed. But there are also other practical matters you might want to consider if you're about to start IVF or are already in the process.

Find a clinic and doctor you feel comfortable with

It's important to find a doctor and clinic that are a good fit for you. Once you begin the IVF process, you'll have to go to a lot of places, and the processes and information can be quite complex and overwhelming.

Make sure you connect well with the professionals working there and that you can communicate effectively. Ensure they explain things clearly and listen to what you're working on.

See if they have convenient, accessible ways to contact them if you have questions about the prescriptions or how to do something. If you don't feel reassured, consider comparing with another clinic.

Understand the whole process

While many couples are aware of IVF, most don't fully understand the process until they're already in it. IVF is a process involving countless blood tests, injections, and administrations.

Consider whether you can give yourself daily injections, or whether you'd prefer to have someone else do it for you. Most women find this difficult at first, but they get used to it after a while.

An IVF process also begins with the use of artificial hormones to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, rather than a single one. This is because multiple eggs are needed, as some eggs may not be fertilized or develop poorly after fertilization.

Whenever synthetic hormones are introduced into your body, side effects such as mood swings, depression, and anxiety can occur. They can also cause bloating, nausea, and headaches. Be aware of this possibility and how it can affect your life and relationships.

Although the actual procedure varies slightly from clinic to clinic, a typical treatment normally follows these steps:

Step 1: Suppression of the natural menstrual cycle

You'll receive medication that suppresses your natural menstrual cycle. The medication is usually a daily injection that you administer yourself.

Step 2: Helping your ovaries produce more eggs

Once your natural cycle is suppressed, you'll take a fertility hormone (follicle-stimulating hormone, FSH). FSH increases the number of eggs your ovaries produce. This means more eggs can be collected and fertilized. With more fertilized eggs, the clinic has a greater selection of embryos for your treatment.

Step 3: Collecting the eggs

Before your eggs are collected, you'll receive an injection of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that helps your eggs mature. After the eggs are collected, you'll be given hormone medication to prepare the uterine lining to receive the embryo. Your eggs are collected using a needle inserted through your vagina and into each ovary. It may sound intimidating, but this is a minor procedure that only takes 15-20 minutes.

Some women may experience some cramping or minor vaginal bleeding after this procedure – this is normal.

Step 5: Fertilization of the eggs

The collected eggs are combined with sperm in a laboratory to fertilize them. The fertilized eggs (embryos) develop in the laboratory for up to six days before being transferred to the uterus. A specialist selects the best one or two embryos, and these are transferred to your uterus.

Once the embryos have been transferred, you will be advised to wait about two weeks before taking a pregnancy test to see if the treatment has worked.

This wait can be endless and stressful, as you analyze every ache and pain. Try to keep yourself busy and don't test too early.

Think about your other obligations

IVF isn't something you can arrange in a single appointment. Even a single IVF cycle involves multiple tests and appointments. Think about the time involved and how you'll manage it. How flexible is your life? Can you leave work when necessary? Do you need extra time off? Is this something you can be open and honest about with your colleagues or employer?

Most employers may be completely unaware of the process and have many questions. Try to be open and explain the process and the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of fertility treatments.

This is how you can best combine IVF treatments with your work:

• Try to make an appointment early in the morning . Most clinics have appointments starting at 7:00 AM.
• Choose a clinic near your office or home.
• If possible, try to work from home during the IVF process to reduce stress.
• If you can't talk to your employer about your IVF treatment, try to find a colleague you can talk to about what's going on and see if he or she can cover for you in an emergency.

Think about holidays

If you're planning a trip while undergoing IVF treatment, please share your travel details with the clinic. For certain parts of the IVF treatment, you'll need to stay nearby, as you'll need to attend daily appointments at the clinic. There are also certain appointments that need to coincide with the start of your cycle.

Talk about it (or not)

Many people need more than one IVF treatment, and results vary from cycle to cycle. If your first treatment wasn't successful, it can be incredibly disappointing. Some couples need many cycles, and that can take a long time—in some cases, years.

Given the sheer number of appointments, the hormones, and the intensity of the whole process, it can be incredibly tiring and isolating. Sometimes it helps to talk to other people about your experiences. If you have a close friend or family member you can confide in, consider telling them about it.

And if you don't feel comfortable with friends or family, consider seeking help from a therapist or a support group specifically for women or couples undergoing IVF treatment.

Remember: most (if not all!) of IVF is out of your control. This can be incredibly difficult to live with, even if you're not a control freak! No one likes a lack of control, but if you can let go a little and talk to people about it, it can help you get through the process better. You're not alone.

And if things don't go according to plan, try not to blame yourself. There will likely be setbacks, but find ways to care for yourself during this process. Be kind to yourself and seek moments of joy. This isn't an easy journey.

And if you'd rather keep your entire experience private, that's fine too. For some people, it's a good form of self-protection. Everyone has different ways of dealing with the emotions surrounding IVF.

Helping your partner

IVF isn't something you do alone. You need both an egg and sperm to create a baby. For men, fertility issues are often a private matter. Much of the medical experience focuses on the woman and her body, but men participate too! Here's what you can do to support your partner.

Help your partner with healthy sperm

Here are some tips to help improve the quality and quantity of your partner's sperm:

• Drink in moderation! This applies to everyone, of course. But a man who wants to become a father drinks in moderation. More than two alcoholic drinks a day reduces sperm quality.
• Don't smoke or use drugs. These lower sperm quality, as does alcohol.
• Keep it cool down there . If a man's testicles get too warm, sperm quality can decrease. They shouldn't get warmer than 35 degrees Celsius—yes, two degrees lower than average body temperature. But don't worry, you don't need to put ice cubes on them. Loose underwear is sufficient. And it's also wise not to sit in the same place for too long, don't take too many hot baths, or visit saunas too often.
• A healthy environment . If a man is ill, this can temporarily reduce sperm quality. And if he works with chemicals or radioactive substances, pesticides, lead, or radiation (such as X-rays), this can also affect sperm quality.
• Reduce stress . Stress is another culprit when it comes to sperm quality. We know the entire IVF process can be stressful, so try to minimize intense and prolonged stress as much as possible.
• Exercise, but keep it light . Regular exercise, even minimal exercise, can positively impact sperm quality. However, if a man exercises too much, it can lead to lower testosterone production, which in turn reduces sperm count. So don't push yourself too hard.
• Eat healthy . Healthy foods like fruits and vegetables improve sperm quality. B vitamins, folic acid, and foods rich in zinc are also excellent for healthy sperm.

Remember: Sperm maturation takes 75 to 90 days. What a man eats today will therefore affect the quality of his sperm in three months.

Studies have shown that folic acid , zinc, and omega-3s can be beneficial for sperm quality, so in addition to a healthy diet, a man may also consider adding a supplement to his daily routine.

Read our blog on nutrition and fertility to learn more .

Make sure your partner is flexible, prepared, and understands the process

It's important to support your partner and mentally prepare them for the process. Just as it's important for you to understand the process and procedures, you should make sure your partner knows what's expected of them.

For example, on the day of the egg retrieval, your partner will need to provide a sperm sample. Masturbation is the most common method for obtaining a sample, so make sure he knows this. Also, make sure he's not traveling when the sperm sample is needed. The exact timing may not be entirely predictable, as it depends on your cycle, so this is also important to know.

Try to keep him informed about the entire process and how you're feeling, so he can understand how he can support you. Try to be honest and open about your feelings so he can support you, and encourage him to share his feelings as well. It can be helpful to attend a support group together. If there are specific commitments he can help with while you're busy, be specific and ask for help.

Waiting for the news of a pregnancy

Waiting to find out if your IVF treatment has resulted in a pregnancy can be exhausting. During the nearly two-week wait, you'll monitor your body for any signs of pregnancy.

Try to compensate for the anxiety by treating yourself to something you enjoy. Consciously plan things that make you happy so you can focus on something else. Meditate or practice affirmations that can help you shift negative thoughts. Focus on your breathing when you're feeling anxious and talk to your partner as much as possible. Remember that things can always go wrong, but you have no control over that.

Create a bad news plan

Even though IVF treatment can be successful, the chances of failure are still greater than success. So no matter how well you prepare mentally, if the treatment isn't successful, you'll likely feel sad, angry, and disappointed.

Try to remind yourself that you've done everything in your power. To protect yourself emotionally, there are a few things you can do:

• Limit the number of people you tell about your treatments . If they fail, it can be exhausting to constantly break the news.
• Plan where you want to be when you get the news . For example, you don't want to be in the hallway at work. If this isn't practical or possible, try to have a plan for what you'll do if the news is bad. Can you cancel meetings on the day you expect a call from your clinic, or work from home that day? This can help if you don't get the news you want.
• If it's bad news , discuss what you and your partner are doing to support each other.
• Try not to plan any activities around the time you expect the news. Of course, some things are unavoidable, but if you're planning a family dinner or a night out, consider rescheduling.

Keep your eye on the future

Of course, it's important to stay positive and hopeful during your IVF journey. But it can also be a good idea to set a limit on how far you're willing to go. Having an end in sight can be psychologically comforting. It can also be helpful to accept that IVF might not work, so it's also advisable to consider what your life will be like without a child.

Thinking that having a child is the key to your long-term happiness and life satisfaction can be very damaging to your mental health when that dream doesn't come true.

It's a good idea to imagine what you're going to do and how you might ultimately come to terms with the loss of your original life plan. This kind of visualization can be helpful for both your mental health and your stress levels.

What it comes down to

IVF is challenging and stressful for many couples. Remember that if you don't succeed immediately, you may go through a grieving process. All the tips in this article are intended to help you manage the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, but we also want to acknowledge that nothing can completely take away the anxiety. There's simply too much at stake.

Sometimes it can help to keep the details of your experience private. Other times, talking to others can be a source of support. Whatever you decide, remember that you are not alone.

If you're going through IVF and feel you need some extra support, talk to our team of experts . We're here to listen and help.