 In the journey towards parenthood, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a lifeline for many struggling with infertility. But preparing for IVF success goes beyond just medication timings and hoping for the best. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the process and a strategic approach to maximise your chances of achieving a successful outcome. In this blog, we will delve into some elements that can positively impact your IVF journey, providing you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate this complex journey. Whether you are considering IVF for the first time or have undergone multiple rounds, this blog will equip you with knowledge and tools you need to boost your chances of success. So, let's dive in and discover how you can take proactive steps to prepare for IVF success and increase your chances of starting or expanding your family. Understanding the IVF Process and WHY you are Undergoing Fertility TreatmentIf you have had trouble conceiving the next steps may involve assisted reproductive treatments. These may include ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The best predictor of fertility success relates to the quality of egg and sperm used to make an embryo. This applies if you are conceiving without intervention, or with assisted reproductive treatments. Identifying why you may be having difficulty conceiving is an important first step in supporting your preparation for treatment. Is your period irregular or absent? You want to get to the bottom of why this is occurring and address the cause. Regular menstrual cycles are a great indicator of health and egg quality. Are there Male Factors? If there are parameters in the semen analysis that are low or not in normal range IUI / IVF / ICSI are not going to improve sperm quality- but you can! Male factors are critical for conception and even with a normal semen analysis there is still work to be done in preparing. Sperm DNA damage (not detected in a semen analysis) adversely affects embryo quality and implantation. An egg can repair sperm but it takes a lot of energy and this requires our energy producing powerhouses in our eggs, our mitochondria, to work overtime. If the mitochondria content in our eggs is reduced, or the mitochondria just aren’t producing enough energy, our developing embryos run out of steam. If you have PCOS, endometriosis, are not ovulating regularly or an imbalance in your gut microbiome you are likely to have less mitochondria, and these may not be producing as much energy. Even without any male factors identified, sperm needs to be looking great to help out our eggs! Do you have an Autoimmune condition such as endometriosis, PCOS, adenomyosis, Thyroid condition, Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBD, SLE, Coeliac Disease? These conditions impact our gut microbiome. Supporting your immune system to reduce inflammation is key to change the follicular fluid environment and support your developing eggs, and implantation. Have you been told you have ‘Unexplained Infertility’? Do you know if you have a healthy and diverse gut microbiota? Do you have elevated levels of systemic inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)? Do you have a high percentage of DNA fragmentation? Are you micronutrient deficient? Is your exercise supporting your fertility? Do you need to increase your microbiome diversity? Are you getting enough fibre in your diet? Is your diet adequate to support your activity? Are you being exposed to environmental toxins regularly? Are you experiencing or recovering from burnout? Is your sleep supporting recovery and restoration? Is your sympathetic nervous system overwhelmed? The list goes on as there are many factors that impact fertility that are not captured in routine testing. With our research science background and evidenced based practice you are likely to uncover strategies to support why it has been more difficult to conceive or have a successful pregnancy. Time Frame to PrepareIVF does not change your egg or sperm quality, or uterine receptivity. Improving egg and sperm quality BEFORE fertility treatment will provide you with the best chance for success. Our eggs mature over 120-290 days and sperm may take around 74 days to be made. The environment our eggs and sperm mature in over these time frames will impact their quality. Planning to focus on your health for a minimum of 3-12 months prior to conception may save you expensive cycles of treatment and reduce the emotional toll. A bonus is that our lifestyle is capable of altering the next generation through epigenetics so we also get to give our future bub the best start in life! Remember that it takes two - healthy eggs AND sperm are the building blocks for success. The Foundation: Your Gut Microbiome Did you know that the billions of bacteria residing in your gut and the compounds they produce- collectively known as the gut microbiome - play a crucial role in regulating various aspects of your reproductive health? From hormone production to nutrient absorption, these helpful bacteria heavily influence your fertility. A healthy gut microbiome can positively influence reproductive function and IVF outcomes. To optimise your chances of IVF success, it is important to focus on supporting a diverse and balanced gut microbiome, and this will support a healthy uterine microbiome. A healthy gut microbiome is essential for maintaining hormonal balance, which is key for successful conception. The gut microbiota interacts with your body's endocrine system, helping to regulate the production and metabolism of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. Imbalances in these hormones can disrupt the menstrual cycle and make it difficult to conceive. Our gut microbiome also plays a role in nutrient absorption. Without proper nutrient absorption, your body may lack the essential vitamins and minerals needed for reproductive health. This can impact the quality of eggs and sperm, making it more challenging to conceive. To nurture your gut health and enhance fertility, it's important to focus on nourishing your gut microbiome. This can be achieved through a gut-friendly diet that includes specific nutrients and compounds to nurture beneficial bacteria. There is a strong connection between gut health and fertility, and we wrote the book that Fertility Experts and Dietitians are reading! If you LOVE science, you can read Create a Fertile Gut: A Science Backed Approach to Nurture Your Microbiome for Optimal Fertility, IVF and Pregnancy Success. Exercise and IVFRegular exercise is not only beneficial for overall health but can also improve your chances of IVF success. Exercise can help regulate hormones, reduce stress, improve blood flow to the reproductive organs, reduce inflammation, lower DNA damage and improve mitochondria function. Ultimately these lead to better quality eggs and sperm, and uterine receptivity. It is important to strike the right balance of activity though, and to ensure you are getting the desired adaptations to align with your needs. With our specialist knowledge in exercise and IVF we can determine the optimal balance to support egg and sperm quality for conception. Emotional Preparation for IVF Building your family can be an emotional rollercoaster, especially when navigating infertility and IVF. But remember, your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health throughout this journey. There's incredible support available! Working with a psychologist specialising in fertility can be a powerful resource to help you manage the emotional ups and downs of IVF. In Australia, a Mental Health Care Plan might even help with accessing a psychologist through Medicare rebates. Am I Ready for IVF?Preparing for IVF success requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors. IVF is a complex journey but the right support and guidance along the way can help you navigate the process, and prepare for the best opportunity for success.
We implement a scientific, evidenced based apporach at The IVF Project. Evaluation is an important part of any planning – even fertility planning. You want to know that the steps you are taking are moving you in the right direction. While you can hold out till another round of fertility treatment or until you are pregnant to know things have worked, you can check in along your journey to conception for signs you are creating a fertile gut. Evaluation does not always have to be about getting more invasive tests to see if your fertility is improving. There can be some simple indicators that your gut microbiota are supporting your fertility and you are getting things back in balance. Here are some questions you may ask yourself and components you could monitor month to month:
If you do wish to have a blood test, semen analysis or Microbiome testing you may like to evaluate how you are progressing by checking:
No matter if you are trying to conceive naturally or are undergoing fertility treatments, you have the power to nurture the quality of your eggs, your sperm, and to create a receptive uterus. Whether you have started treatement or are 5 of more stim rounds in we are here to support you! Comments are closed.
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