How to prepare your body for IVF?

 Ideally, you want to give yourself a minimum of 3-6 months to start preparing your body for the IVF cycle however, even if you have less time than this, any preparation is better than nothing so do what you can with however much time you have. These are the few tips given by the Specialists of the BIMR Hospital, Gwalior. 

Eat fertility-enhancing foods 

Tip 1: The first tip is to clean up your diet and try to incorporate some fertility-enhancing foods. Underweight or overweight seriously affects your chances of the IVF being successful therefore having a healthy BMI is important. A different doctor of fertility gives different guidelines but generally, a BMI of between 20 and 30 is considered acceptable.
A diet low in fat and high in protein, iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium is important. Fruits and green vegetables are ideal. Avoid foods high in sugar, processed and hydrogenated food is advisable.  It is not recommended to start a diet of any kind, as restricting certain foods or minerals affect adversely to your treatment.

Stop smoking, drinking alcohol & reduce caffeine
 Tip 2: To prepare your body for IVF is to stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and reduce your caffeine intake. The proven fact is that nicotine age ovaries and also makes eggs resistant to fertilization, never mind the damage it can do to an unborn foetus if your IVF is successful. During an IVF cycle, consuming alcohol reduces the chance of being successful by up to 50% therefore alcohol should be completely avoided prior to and during IVF. A high intake of caffeine can also have a negative impact on an IVF cycle therefore is best avoided or limiting yourself to a maximum of 2 cups of coffee a day.

Invest in high-quality vitamins
 Tip 3: Quality of the egg is the most crucial factor of an IVF cycle and can make the difference between having a successful or unsuccessful treatment round. Therefore, this tip is to take fertility-enhancing vitamins. There are many prenatal supplements available in pharmacies or supermarkets however it’s worth investing in a high-quality multivitamin. Your Fertility Clinic advises you of a good choice, however at a very minimum you should be taking Folic Acid prior to and during your cycle.

Look into alternative fertility therapies 

Tip 4: To look into alternative therapies that we can undergo prior to and during your cycle. There are many complementary therapies that are specifically modified to enhancing fertility and in an ideal world, this could perhaps stop you from having to do any IVF at all! I was seeing a lady for a while who carried out Reproflexology, which is fertility-focused Reflexology, and she had tremendous results with ladies who have gone on not need any fertility treatment at all. As well as this Acupuncture is being proven to have a lot of positive results where the concern is fertility enhancements. In addition, complementary therapists are usually board-certified to provide you with advice on herbal remedies that can be taken through your therapy, such as Chinese herbs or herbal essences.

Commit to relaxation techniques

Tip 5: To reduce stress, get plenty of rest and commit to some relaxation techniques such as meditation, mindfulness or simply just breathing exercises, it is a must-do for before, during, and after an IVF cycle. An IVF cycle is a very stressful, worrying, and physically demanding process, and whilst it is easier said than done, keeping the stress at a minimum is foremost. Personally, meditation has been a great tool during both my cycles and really allows controlling your breathing and focusing your thoughts. During my second cycle, I downloaded a very useful mindfulness app that is specific for IVF which provides mindfulness techniques for every stage of an IVF cycle and I felt it very beneficial in keeping my mind balanced and positive. 

I hope these tips are useful to anyone who is about to begin an IVF cycle, whether it be your first round or tenth round. Whilst every cycle can take suffering on your body and mind, it is worth committing 100% to every round as that could very well be the round that results in that longed-for baby.