9 Things you Need to Do Before Starting IVF
- 21 Sep, 2021
- IVF and Infertility
- infertility
- Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Nishi Singh - Author: Prime IVF Centre
"We fulfill your dream of starting a family"~Prime IVF
Infertility is a tremendously tough period in a couple's life. It is commonly recognised how mentally and emotionally taxing it is to seek various treatments and determine where to get your IVF procedure done
IVF is an abbreviation for in vitro fertilisation. In vitro fertilisation is a medical treatment that allows couples struggling with primary or secondary infertility to get pregnant. The eggs from females are extracted and then fertilised with the sperm in vitro (in the lab)
At Prime IVF, a team of specialists is on hand to help you understand the entire IVF treatment, from the beginning to the end, and to assist you in making the best and most informed decision. You might have questions like what are the tips before starting IVF? How many tests before starting IVF? What to know before starting IVF treatment?
It's natural to have a lot of questions before you start the treatment.
Continue reading because the article below will answer all of your concerns and tell you what the top 9 things to know before beginning IVF treatment are.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye
1. What Do You Know About IVF Success Rates?
Before commencing any treatment, you must do thorough research and understand the success rate of IVF treatment. It is crucial to acknowledge that the success rate of the treatment does not depend on a single factor.
There are several factors that impact the overall success of your procedure. This covers the male and female partners' ages, the duration of infertility, whether the infertility is primary or secondary, the cause of infertility, the overall quality of your egg, sperm, or embryo, and the overall endometrial development. Out of all the other procedures, IVF is the most successful, with a success rate ranging from 40 to 50% when a patient is under 35. The success rate for couples over the age of 35 is from 35 to 40%.
The success rate of the clinic that you choose is also an essential element to consider. A clinic with a high success rate often guarantees that they are extremely cautious and treat each case with the utmost attention. To ensure a comfortable and successful treatment, choose a facility with board qualified doctors and devoted infrastructure.
2. A body checkup is required before starting IVF.
Before initiating IVF treatment, your eligibility for IVF is assessed. The doctor runs several tests and does a thorough physical examination to determine the best treatment strategy and your chances of success.
- The male partner's test generally includes a sperm analysis, which provides information about the total sperm count, sperm motility, and whether the sperm is morphologically viable or not. The findings of the test decide the next course of action for the male partner.
- The female partner's exam lasts a little longer, and more thorough testing is necessary. A blood test is commonly necessary to assess the level of reproductive hormones such as FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. An HCG test is also performed to determine whether the uterine cavity is normal and the fallopian tubes are open and functioning.
- Vaginal ultrasonography is also used to examine the internal uterine morphology, the thickness and texture of the endometrial lining, the follicular count, and the ovarian volume.
- The HIV and other STD tests are also performed to ensure that you and your partner are in good health and do not have any problems throughout your treatment.
3. What you need to know about the procedure
Going into IVF after knowing everything about the procedure is generally a good idea. IVF involves several processes, including ovarian stimulation, egg and sperm retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer.
- Ovarian induction begins with the injection of synthetic hormones into the female partner, which causes the ovary to release a large number of eggs. This can be accomplished with the use of follicle-stimulating hormones and luteinizing hormone-rich medicines.
- The next stage is egg retrieval, which is often performed while you are sedated and given pain medication. Transvaginal ultrasonography aspiration is the most often utilized retrieval technique. A thin ultrasound probe is put into the vagina to visualize the follicles, and then a thin needle is pushed via the ultrasound probe to reach the vagina. The eggs are recovered by attaching a suction device to the needle and removing the eggs.
- Following that, the sperm is extracted from the male partner when the sperm sample is collected.
- After retrieval, the eggs and sperm can be fertilised using one of two methods: traditional insemination, in which healthy sperm and mature eggs are mixed and stored overnight, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in which healthy sperm is directly inserted into the mature egg.
- 2 to 5 days after the retrieval, the embryos are placed directly into the uterus, which can be a painful procedure known as embryo transfer. The female spouse is given a little sedative and may experience cramps during the embryo transfer. A thin catheter is introduced into the vagina up to the uterus, and then a syringe with one or more embryos is inserted via this, and the embryo is implanted with the help of this syringe.
- It takes around 12 to 15 days after egg retrieval to determine if your pregnancy is viable or not.
4. What you need to know about the procedure
Going through IVF is like running a marathon rather than a sprint. The IVF method is lengthy and time-consuming, and several aspects must be considered when determining the success of any IVF treatment. You must be patient and attempt to retain your calm and composure because there is a possibility that one single cycle will not succeed.
The different stages in each IVF cycle come with a chance of failure and it is crucial to give it time. Before beginning IVF treatment, you should get in the best form possible, both emotionally and physically. Being physically healthy will help you succeed, and being mentally fit will help you get through the numerous treatments and procedures required.
5. Check your diet and lifestyle
What you eat and how you live your life might have a big impact on your IVF success rate. Hormones play an important part in pregnancy, and any changes in hormonal levels can result in ovarian malfunction and hormonal imbalance. It is critical to consume adequate amounts of minerals such as folic acid, iron, and zinc, as well as eat a healthy diet.
A balanced diet rich in minerals, vitamins, carbs, proteins, and fats can aid in the improvement of sperm quality in men. Exercising regularly is also vital since a healthy body keeps everything in control and balance.
A successful IVF treatment also necessitates that you change your lifestyle and integrate good habits such as keeping a steady weight and working out regularly, even if it's a low-impact activity such as walking. You must avoid certain foods and behaviors, such as consuming alcohol and smoking, which can significantly lower the chances of effective treatment, so attempt to eliminate these variables before beginning IVF treatment in Gurgaon.
6. Stress plays a great role in IVF
Stress and infertility have a complex relationship. Dealing with infertility for an extended period can lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness. And, in many cases, stress may have a major influence on a couple's ability to conceive. Thus, being stressed because of infertility and being infertile because of stress is a vicious circle.
The impact of stress on both men and women is well documented. There have been several reports of stress being one of the causes of female infertility.
- Stress can cause delayed ovulation and, in certain cases, cause a female to ovulate less frequently. This can have an impact on their capacity to conceive naturally. There is also evidence that stress affects and balances fertility hormones.
- Stress can also cause a variety of physiological issues in men, interfering with their capacity to ejaculate naturally. Stress is the most common cause of testosterone imbalance, which affects sperm motility and shape.
You must minimise your everyday stress levels before beginning IVF.
7. Some side effects can be observed
IVF treatment is not immune to side effects because it is a medical treatment, and just like any other medical treatment, there are some adverse effects and things to know before starting IVF treatment:
- There are several fertility medications used during IVF, and any of them might cause an adverse response. Mild symptoms include mild headaches, hot flushes, cramps, and other discomforts.
- Normally, the embryo grows into the uterus. However, in some cases, the embryo begins to develop into the fallopian tube rather than the uterus. This is referred to as ectopic pregnancy, and it is one of the most serious adverse effects of IVF.
- Because multiple embryos are implanted through IVF, the possibility of carrying multiple pregnancies increases.
- All of the procedures are invasive, and IVF can be painful and uncomfortable. It is common to feel anxious before beginning treatment, but being aware of the procedure and mentally prepared before the operation can help a lot.
It is advisable to visit the clinic and become acquainted with the environment as well as the professionals, which can considerably lower your anxiety and help you get through the procedure more easily.
8. Maintain realistic expectations
Before you begin the procedure, you must understand that IVF is not a miracle cure. The physicians and staff do everything they can to make the treatment successful, but because so many elements are involved, the outcome is not always as per the expectations. One of the most important things to do before beginning IVF treatment is to set reasonable expectations for the procedure. Many times, even when everything is done perfectly, the results of IVF are not as expected. This is due to the body's need to adjust to the treatment and sustain the pregnancy. As a result, depending on your infertility issue, you may require many IVF rounds. Therefore, it is critical to set realistic expectations.
9. Don’t worry if your first cycle fails
The first cycle of IVF is often difficult as you are getting accustomed to the entire treatment, and there is a risk that the first cycle can fail and you will not get the desired result. However, this does not imply that your IVF treatment is a failure. When undergoing IVF treatment, patience is essential. Sometimes the embryo retrieved is of poor quality, and sometimes the sperm quality is inadequate, so all of these issues might have an impact on every phase of the IVF procedure.
Failure of the first cycle can be upsetting, but it also provides the physicians and team with an opportunity to analyze the steps and tailor the treatment more specifically according to the client's condition, and every step can be reviewed to perform better in the next cycle.
Takeaway
Prime Infertility Centre is established by a group of very enthusiastic, highly experienced, and devoted doctors with the sole goal of offering comprehensive infertility options to couples under one roof while maintaining high ethical standards, total transparency, and at a very affordable fee.
Prime IVF is dedicated to providing the best results possible and is often renowned as the best IVF clinic in Delhi.
