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Once you have determined with your physician that IVF is right for you, preparation is important to optimize your chance of success. Our pre-treatment instructions can help you make the most of your treatment and maximize your chance of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.
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Providing as much information as possible at your initial consultation and pre-treatment appointments will help your physician customize a plan for you. Many factors–medical history, previous pregnancies, weight, diet, medications, lifestyle, stress level, exercise routines, previous fertility tests or treatments and more–influence the decisions we make as we work with you to determine your best possible treatment.
Track Your Cycle
A woman’s cycle is one of the most important factors in achieving pregnancy, so it is vital to track yours. It is also recommended that you test for ovulation using an ovulation kit; it can tell you if you are ovulating by measuring hormones in your urine. A fertility monitor will provide even more accurate tracking. It assesses your saliva, urine, vaginal discharge or body temperature to provide detailed information about your cycle.
Pre-Treatment Exams
Comprehensive testing is required for both you and your partner prior to beginning IVF.
Examinations may include:
- Tests for infection. Infectious disease is a possible cause of infertility. We may use urine, blood, stool, or other types of tests to screen you and your partner for such diseases.
- A uterine cavity examination. A sonohysterogram may be recommended to check for abnormalities in the structure of your uterus. It involves performing an ultrasound of your uterus after injecting a saline solution through your cervix. Your physician can also insert a narrow, lighted tube with a camera at the end into your uterus through your cervix to capture images of your uterine cavity. This is called a hysteroscopy.
- Semen testing. A semen sample is required to determine if the male partner suffers from a male infertility issue such as abnormally shaped sperm, low sperm count or low motility.
- Ovarian reserve assessment. Women have a limited number of eggs, so your physician will need to test your reserves through hormone testing and an ovarian ultrasound.
Optimize Your Health
Improving your overall health and taking your prescribed medications is very important when undergoing IVF. Your individual treatment plan will include medications in the form of pills and injections. Your physician and your nurse coordinator will help you understand the proper instructions and schedules for these medications. In addition to taking your medications, it is recommended that you attend to your overall health prior to beginning the IVF process.
You should:
- Sleep at least eight hours per night
- Stop smoking
- Improve your diet by cutting down on sugar, alcohol and highly processed foods. Increase your intake of antioxidants and Omega 3s.
- Take vitamin supplements (as recommended by your physician)
- Seek out people who can support you emotionally during this sometimes stressful process
Get more detailed information on optimizing your health in preparation for IVF at www.lifechoicesandfertility.com
Let’s Take the Next Step Together
Our skilled fertility specialists are here to help. Contact us today and let’s discuss the next phase of your fertility journey.