If you’re considering IVF to get pregnant, let the following IVF success tips help you and your partner relax and maximize your chances of getting pregnant.
IVF Success Tip #1: Do your homework
It takes time and patience to select a successful IVF center. When you screen potential IVF sites, ask questions such as:
- Are the physicians board certified?
- What specialties are they certified in?
- Do the clinics use accredited labs?
- Are they educated on the latest science related to IVF?
- How many IVF procedures have been performed at the clinic?
IVF Success Tip #2: Take time to relax
It’s important to balance the stressful experience of IVF with pleasurable activities that promote relaxation and wellness. Because of the intense stress involved, make sure you keep other life stressors to a minimum. For example, avoid making other major life changes such as moving to a new house or starting a new job the same time you’re going through the IVF process.
IVF Success Tip #3: Talk to a counselor
Consider talking to a mental health counselor if you feel anxious, depressed, or if your relationship feels strained. Some findings show that being involved in a stress management program or undergoing counseling may even boost your chances of conceiving.
IVF Success Tip #4: Be patient
Many couples find that the intensity and waiting involved with IVF (screenings, testing, and procedures) is almost more than they can bear. Some couples have already waited months and even years to get pregnant. Then, they are immediately disappointed to find that the IVF process involves a time commitment.
As you focus on staying patient during this time, an important IVF success tip is to chill! Make plans to stay active with friends and family. Discover a hobby or a new activity that is relaxing and fun. Try to keep your mind off of any worries or potential setbacks during the IVF journey. And, most importantly, have hope that your doctors will do all they can to help you get pregnant and have a healthy baby.
IVF Success Tip #5: Start early
One IVF success tip is to begin the IVF cycle as soon as you and your doctor decide that you are a good candidate for in vitro fertilization. Because female fertility declines as women get older, starting IVF early on is important.
Some experts estimate that as many as 1/3 of women will have trouble with fertility after age 35, with over 2/3 of women struggling with infertility by age 40. If you are in your 30s and have struggled to conceive after 6 months, talk to your doctor to see what options you have, including IVF.
IVF Success Tip #6: Ask about alternative therapies
Another IVF success tip for women may be borrowed from Asian cultures, which have used acupuncture to treat women’s health issues for centuries. Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture may be beneficial to women who are undergoing the IVF process when performed within one day of the embryo transfer. Ask your fertility specialist about alternative theories to see if they may help your situation.
IVF Success Tip #7: Don’t bypass the semen analysis for men
A semen analysis is an important IVF success tip for men. Sperm quality can change as time passes, and as little as one year passing by can affect sperm count, shape and movement.
It is important to check your semen before beginning an IVF cycle, to determine whether there is an infection present, among other potential issues.
IVF Success Tip #8: Talk openly with your doctor
Effective communication with your physician is a vital IVF success tip, as you seek answers to problems with infertility and worries about IVF. Write down questions you may have about IVF, including your infertility problems and modes of treatment, then talk with your doctor about these concerns. Once you understand more about how IVF may help, you can take immediate measures to formulate a plan for successful conception.
Schedule an IVF consultationSources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report: National Summary. American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Frequently Asked Questions About Infertility. National Institutes of Health: Want to get pregnant? Just relax. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Acupuncture Shows Promise in Improving Rates of Pregnancy Following IVF. 2008 Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Patient Evaluation.
