Tips for Boosting Your Chance of IVF Success

The desire to have children is a profound angst of family life for couples facing infertility. As a result, assisted reproductive technology (ART), specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF), has been a valuable tool in realizing their dream of parenthood. Proper lifestyle adjustment to prepare the body before and after the IVF procedure is instrumental in helping couples enhance their chances of having a baby.

What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

IVF is a reproductive technology that brings the father's sperm and the mother's eggs for in vitro fertilization in a laboratory. The doctor will implant the healthy embryo into the mother's uterus for further fetal development and growth until term. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is widely regarded as the most effective assisted reproductive technology available today, helping couples achieve their dreams of building a complete family.

Recommendations for increasing your chances of IVF success

Doctors advise those planning for IVF to prepare physically three months in advance for expectant mothers and father-to-be for healthy sperm production with full potential to fertilize the egg. Preparation before and after IVF is essential for a successful pregnancy. Changing your lifestyle can significantly increase your chances of having a successful pregnancy. Here are some tips for boosting IVF success:

Healthy eating is beneficial.

A healthy diet provides the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins required for healthy eggs and sperm production, increasing the chances of successful IVF. Those planning for pregnancy should increase the amount of these foods in their diet.

Food to nourish the eggs and uterus and accelerate ovulation for the mother-to-be

Healthy, nourishing food helps nurture the eggs and uterus, accelerate ovulation, nourish the womb, and slow egg degeneration. Aids in the health of the eggs and the maintenance of healthy reproductive hormones help protect cells and increase the chance of pregnancy. The following nutrients can boost IVF success rates:

Green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli.
Potatoes, soybeans, soy milk, and black sesame seeds
Whole grains, brown rice, whole bread, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa
Legumes, soybeans, peas, kidney beans, fava beans, winged beans, green beans, and lentils
Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries
eggs, milk, and yogurt
banana, tomato
salmon, sardines
avocado, olive oil
Avoid foods high in sugar or fat, processed or packaged foods -- instead, eat fresh food.

Food for vigorous, motile sperms for the father-to-be

Food that is beneficial to male reproductive health, aiding the production of the highly motile and vigorous sperms, increases sperm volume, helps you to ejaculate more sperm, stimulates sexual drive, and allows you to have more sexual stamina includes:

Eggs
Soybeans, red beans, fava beans, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds
Tomatoes, garlic, oysters, and beef
Banana, pomegranate
Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries
Chocolate

Weight control and regular exercise

Being overweight or having a low BMI is not conducive to being fertile. To prepare for a healthy pregnancy, doctors recommend maintaining a healthy weight by keeping your body mass index (BMI) within the normal range. The healthy BMI for Asian people is less than 23.0 kg/m2. Body weight within the healthy BMI range is achievable through diet and exercise. Walking and yoga are what the doctors usually recommend before and during pregnancy, but you should avoid strenuous activities.

Walking and yoga are what the doctors usually recommend before and during pregnancy,

Limit caffeine consumptions

Doctors advise limiting caffeine consumption to 1-2 cups per day. Caffeine consumption can lessen your chances of having a successful pregnancy by up to 50%.

Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

Smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol reduce the chances of IVF success, decrease sperm quality, reduce fertility, damage the DNA of sperm, and lessen the chances of successful uterine embryo implantation, as well as negate the efficacy of reproductive tonics.

Get sufficient sleep

Sleeping helps rejuvenate organs and various metabolic processes in the body; therefore, doctors advise those with infertility to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, refrain from eating 2-3 hours, and avoid drinking caffeine at least 4-6 hours before bedtime to help increase your chances of becoming pregnant and having a successful IVF procedure.

Taking folic acid and vitamin D supplements

Folic acid is an essential nutrient; doctors advise supplementing with folic acid three months before conception and during pregnancy. Folic acid promotes embryonic health, prevents brain damage and abnormalities in the fetal spine, aids in pregnancy, and improves IVF success.
Vitamin D is a vitamin supplement that can help with pregnancy. Doctors frequently prescribe vitamin D after clinical evaluation to help support pregnancy because many prospective mothers are vitamin D deficient, lowering their chances of a successful pregnancy. However, taking vitamin D or other supplements should be done under the supervision of a doctor, as some supplements can interfere with fertility drugs.

Sperm enhancement

Sperm quality and strength are crucial factors in IVF success. Therefore, the doctor advises the father to strengthen his sperm before beginning the IVF cycle, such as by maintaining a healthy BMI, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and alcohol, getting enough sleep, keeping the temperature of the testicles cool by avoiding hot tubs, soaking in onsen, or saunas, or laying a laptop or notebook on the lap and temporarily refraining from bicycling.

Moreover, doctors also advise drinking plenty of water—at least 2 liters per day—and taking supplements and vitamins such as A, B12, C, E, selenium, and zinc to keep sperm healthy, robust, and ready to fertilize the egg.

Therefore, the doctor advises the father to strengthen his sperm before beginning the IVF cycle

Refrain from sexual intercourse 3-4 days before the sperm collection.

The doctor advises the father-to-be to refrain from sexual intercourse, masturbation, or ejaculation for 3-4 days before sperm collection to obtain a sufficient sperm volume for the selection process to yield the best, most robust, and highest-quality sperm.

Reduce stress and positive thinking.

Infertility causes stress in childless couples. Many may have to go through more than one round of IVF, which can cause stress. As a result, the doctor advises them to think positively, encourage each other, ease their minds, and engage in activities that help their bodies release endorphins, the endogenous feel-good chemical. In addition, in the subsequent round of IVF, the doctor will adjust the medication and give supplements to help increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Avoid exposure to chemicals or heavy metals.

Doctors advise those in the preparation phase of IVF to avoid chemicals or heavy metals in materials of everyday use, such as BPA- or phenol-containing food packaging, paraben-containing soaps, and kitchenware stain repellents such as perfluorinated substances.

State-of-the-art hospital with experienced IVF specialists

In addition to lifestyle changes for a successful pregnancy, choosing a hospital well equipped with state-of-the-art assisted reproductive technology along with a team of proven IVF specialists with good track records is a crucial factor for couples with infertility wishing to have a baby — the golden chain binding their souls -- realize the dream of having a complete family of father, mother, and child.