6 Things Women Trying IVF to Get Pregnant Want You to Know

Many years ago, infertile couples who wished to become parents had no option for assisted reproductive technology such as IVF. The concept of IVF was started in 1978 when a girl named Louise was born. She is considered to be the first baby born through IVF and since them millions of babies have been born through IVF.

During some point of life you must be thinking to start a family. But its very disheartening when you are unable to conceive due to certain reasons. But luckily, parents who can’t conceive on their own now have a safe option: using advanced reproductive technology to help them get pregnant i.e. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique.

In the IVF procedure, eggs of the women are removed from her body and are fertilized with sperms obtained from the male partner in a laboratory. Once the fertilization has taken place and the embryos are returned to the woman’s uterus, where the baby grows.

IVF involves several steps — ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. It might take two to three weeks to complete one cycle of IVF, and more than one cycle might be required. Making the decision to have In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is both thrilling and stressful. On one hand, this treatment puts you a step closer to getting pregnant. On the other, not knowing what to expect and worrying about whether it will even work is stressful. So that you can be prepared, here are some things you should know.

• Females should keep a check on their Egg Reserve:

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test can be done to check the egg reserve. It can be performed any time during the cycle. As you know, there is no test for egg quality, but the older one gets lower the egg quality goes. Women who have a low AMH score will be advised by their doctors regarding the next steps and options.

• Eat Healthy for your Fertility:

A vegetable-based diet is healthy for any woman, but those who have fibroids, estrogen dominance and hormonal problems should consider it in particular. It is better to avoid meat and dairy products if you have fibroids or hormonal imbalance problems. You should have a healthy weight as being either overweight or underweight can also impact fertility in both men and women. Both partners should follow a healthy lifestyle, it will help to increase the chances of getting pregnant with assisted reproductive methods.

• Prevent damage to the sperm: 

Certain items such as lubricants, though they may make sexual intercourse more comfortable, can affect the sperm number. So it’s important to look for a sperm-friendly one specifically while purchasing a lubricant. Also, it would be better to avoid hot tubs, laptops on the lap and saunas.

• Reduce the stress level:

Stress has been scientifically proven to decrease fertility. As undergoing the IVF process can be stressful itself, you should not think too much and stay positive during this period. In fact, women who are under a lot of stress are 40 percent less likely to conceive when they’re fertile. There are many things you can do to de-stress, including laughter, exercise, vacation, meditation, and yoga. 

• Reduce or eliminate coffee:

It will not easy to give up on coffee if you have a habit of having it every day in the morning. Studies have shown that coffee can affect fertility because of caffeine and other toxic substances. The chances of miscarriages increase for the couple that drinks more than two caffeinated beverages a day. It is advisable to have green tea or other herbal tea instead. 

• Take supplements, but confirm with the doctor 

As you are already aware that a healthy diet is a must, you can also include certain health supplements. Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, quit smoking and limiting the use of alcohol are important. It is advisable to take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day and prenatal vitamins to prevent neural tube defects. But talk to the doctor before starting on these medicines. It is also suggested taking coenzyme Q10 supplement too, as it will help to improve the fertility

• It comes at a cost.

IVF can be an expensive treatment for many couples. But there are many financial plans to make the treatment affordable, especially in popular medical tourism destinations, such as India, Thailand, Turkey, and others. 

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are the personal views of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)