How to Increase the Success Rate of IVF

Choosing to undergo IVF treatments in order to become parents is a big decision and most couples are warned going into the process that they may face a long and frustrating road ahead. No IVF procedure comes with guarantees and often one or more courses of treatment will fail before a successful pregnancy occurs and sometimes IVF never succeeds at all. These are however, facts that many couples are willing to accept and still move forward with their treatment plan.

There are many things that affect the possibility of success when it comes to IVF and many of these factors are purely down to chance and little else. There are however some things that couples can do to possibly increase the chances that the IVF treatment will be successful.

One of the things many women do is formulate a “Pre IVF” regime for themselves that will better prepare their bodies and their minds for the journey ahead. Here is some information about some of the things that can be added to such a plan and how they can all work together as a whole:

Making Diet Changes Before IVF Begins – Most women who are trying to conceive at all – either naturally or through IVF – hear that what they eat may impact their chances of success considerably.

There are a growing number of people though – including medical professionals – who are beginning to theorize that the higher rates of infertility and difficulty in conceiving that exist across the world today in industrialized countries may in some way be linked, at least in part, to the chemicals that are used to make, and grow, the foods we eat today.

For this reason if you are preparing to undergo IVF – whether you are a prospective Mum to Be or a Dad to Be, you may want to try to add more organic food into your new healthier diet. The definition of organic in this case would be fruits and vegetables that are not cultivated using chemical fertilizers, grass fed beef that is not injected with artificial hormones and free range poultry that is not exposed to bacteria laden living conditions.

Look into Extra Supplements – Most women these days begin taking a prenatal vitamin once they realize that they are pregnant but women trying to conceive can benefit from taking one too. There are certain things that are not routinely included in a standard supplement though that many fertility experts feel can help increase fertility and the quality of both eggs and sperm.

The omega 3 fatty acids contained in fish oil, and krill oil supplements for example are excellent antioxidants as well, especially in krill oil. L-Arginine may also be very useful as several studies have now shown that higher doses of it have increased both ovarian response and IVF success rates in women who were previously “poor responders”.

Royal jelly is another supplement that increasingly it is believed can help improve egg quality. Some studies have also shown that royal jelly has, to a certain extent, the ability to mimic human estrogen so it can be helpful for those who have low estrogen levels to add the supplement to their diet as well.

These supplements should be taken 60- 90 days before IVF treatment begins. Once a woman begins taking the fertility drugs that are a part of the process she will be advised to stop taking most supplements, so building up their benefits before treatment begins is a must when it comes to these extra fertility support supplements.

Massage – Although there is no scientific evidence that massage can help fertility, the one thing it most certainly can do is help reduce your stress levels and the link between high levels of stress – although it is not yet quite understood fully by medical science – is one that was made a long time ago.

The best kind of massage for most people is not the deep tissue variety but a lighter relaxation massage designed to alleviate stress. There is also some evidence that proper massage can stimulate the immune system and help the body regulate hormone production naturally.

Acupuncture – One form of alternative medicine that doctors are increasingly accepting as beneficial for women preparing to undergo IVF treatment is acupuncture. You do need to find an acupuncturist who is experienced in fertility techniques though as there are specific points that need to be avoided. As it is becoming more widely accepted often the IVF facility you will be using can recommend such a practitioner for you work with before your IVF treatment begins.

All of these things may help increase the chances that a course of IVF treatment will be successful and although there are certainly no guarantees they are worth giving a try, especially since many of these things will also help support a healthy and successful pregnancy once you do conceive!