Preparing Your Body for IVF
When Fertility Treatments Don't Work
When couples seek assisted reproduction technology (ART) to address their ability to conceive it is because they aren't able to conceive naturally. There are problems of one sort or another that make a natural, unassisted conception beyond their reach. The decision to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a big one and requires a major commitment for both partners.
In order to give the process the best chance of being successful, it is necessary for both partners to prepare for IVF. The obvious place to start is with your health - all parts of health, mental, physical and emotional. Not only is IVF a big commitment in terms of time and money, it also demands the best of you in terms of health and well-being.
Preparing The Body Takes Time
The course of action toward preparing your body for IVF begins long before the actual procedure takes place. When using alternative methods of establishing health and wellness, the time span for preparing the body can be as long as four to six months whereas the treatment cycle for IVF is four to six weeks. Establishing a solid foundation before the IVF procedure is wise, but isn't always possible. The more time you spend beforehand, the more you can accomplish when it comes to your health.
A balanced cycle is important to the success of IVF treatments which means that issues such as PCOS, PMS, fibroids, and troublesome periods all need to be addressed. Low sperm count, poor motility or high numbers of abnormal sperm are also signs of imbalance. All of these conditions can be treated effectively with acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and diet and lifestyle changes.
The amount of information given out to prospective parents is staggering. All kinds of advice on what to eat or not eat, how much exercise to perform, which pills are best and what to avoid bombards a couple seeking conception help. There are some basic concepts that are important to pre-conception health in preparing the body for IVF.
You Are What You Eat
Seeking the natural way to health requires a diet that is based upon wholesome, fresh, organic foods. Organic foods have not been exposed to fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics or hormones. IVF experts are discovering the importance of protecting the embryos from toxins of any sort, which gives credence to the idea of eating organically grown foods.
Not Too Fat - Not Too Lean
Managing your weight is also important to the success of the IVF procedure. However, losing too much weight can be as serious for your body as being overweight. Either end of the spectrum causes conception problems. Calorie restriction affects the pituitary hormones' affect on the ovaries and a woman who is even just ten percent below normal body weight can have reduced ovulation. On the other hand, overweight women sometimes experience problems related to PCOS. One of the best and most effective ways to help clear toxins from the body and get rid of excess weight is to do a detox or cleanse. You'll need four to six weeks to do this properly, so it is important to plan adequately.
You Should Know This Already
It seems almost redundant to harp on caffeine, but the facts are irrefutable. Yale Medical School did a study that found the risk of infertility was 55 percent higher in women who drink just one cup of coffee a day, 100 percent higher for women drinking 1.5 to three cups per day and 176 percent higher for women drinking more than three cups per day. A European study five years later corroborated the information by finding that caffeine intake slowed the rate of conception in women. Top that information with the evidence that coffee drinking in both men and women increases the rate of miscarriage and affects fetal growth. The concerns with alcohol are self evident. It's best to stop drinking both before, during and after the IVF procedure.
Are You Getting Enough Fluids?
An integral part of a healthy diet is getting enough fluids - every system in your body relies upon adequate hydration. The reproductive system is no different, and in the case of preparing your body for IVF, getting enough fluid is critical to the nourishing of the egg in the follicle, maintaining adequate fluid in the fallopian tubes and in the uterine lining where the life of the embryo is sustained. In men, good fluid levels nourish the sperm and for both men and women good water intake is important to blood circulation. When your body is dehydrated blood thickens and has a hard time getting to the finest capillaries. In Chinese medicine, blood stagnation can cause a variety of gynecological conditions that inhibit fertility.
We've Only Just Begun
Of course, there are many more considerations to preparing your body for IVF. Proper supplementation with a good quality multi-vitamin and adequate supplementation with additional vitamins and minerals that are essential to hormone, egg and sperm production is important for both partners. Adequate protein consumption of organically grown meats, eggs, and fish along with enough EFAs (essential fatty acids) help to ensure hormone balance and good egg production.
Ensuring your body is properly prepared for IVF helps the process. Learn more about the ways you can prepare to make the experience successful.
or sign up
Post a comment