If you are also eager to find out what the steps are that you need to take to prepare yourself for IVF, then you should get in touch with Dr. Sharmistha Sarkar. With her expert knowledge, you can understand the procedure and determine what to expect throughout the procedure. In this informative blog, we will discuss some of the general measures that you can adopt during an IVF cycle to prepare yourself.
Here are some ways to prepare for IVF physically, emotionally, and financially
1. Understand the treatment
2. Seek expert guidance from a fertility specialist
The IVF treatment approach is unique for every patient and to get personalized preparation tips for your condition, you must consult an experienced fertility specialist. Dr. Sharmistha Sarkar has vast experience in handling IVF cycles with high success rates, who can provide you in-depth advice during the consultations.
If you have any questions about the treatment, then you can ask the doctor so that you can start the treatment without any stress. You must also take your partner during the consultations so that you both have a clear idea about the treatment.
3. Prepare your body for the IVF cycle
During the IVF cycle, one needs to be cautious and take small steps to prepare your body so that it becomes more efficient in the egg retrieval and transfer. The following are the ways through which you can make the necessary preparations-
a. Do not smoke: One of the most common reasons for infertility is smoking, which can damage the sperm and egg. By avoiding smoking, one can achieve their goal by providing a favorable environment for conceiving the baby.
b. Exercise regularly: Exercising is highly effective in IVF therapy; there are a number of benefits which we can get from it. One can do a lot of activities like walking or practicing yoga, which is a good way to keep fit. Consequently, you will also lessen the prospects of developing insulin resistance and being overweight, as well as to reduce the stress.
c. Eat a healthy diet: Planning your meals is the best way to improve your IVF chances. Eating one’s diet should provide all the essential elements that can be helpful to the newborn after IVF such as macro and micro nutrients. It is a matter of fact that food like legumes, whole grains, raw vegetables, and whole fruits should be included regularly in your diet.
d. Enhance sleep quality: It is the norm for quite a number of people to experience sleep problems during IVF treatment. Despite this, it is crucial for you to sleep better to be in good health. The focus of your thoughts should be on the creation of a regular schedule with at least 7-8 hours of good sleep to support hormone balance and the upcoming positive IVF results.
e. Take the necessary supplements: In order to ensure a successful IVF, make sure your eggs are of the best quality. You can, therefore, achieve this through the use of all the supplementary essentials. The first and most important thing one should do is to consult a fertility specialist to obtain adequate information about the supplements and where to buy them.
f. Limit caffeine intake: High caffeine consumption has been connected with decreased fertility rates. That is the reason why one should always be careful with the quantity of caffeine taken over the period of treatment. Exclude tea, coffee, and all other drinks containing caffeine while your body is preparing for the treatment.
4. Be emotionally prepared
a. Manage stress: IVF can be a period of stress. This is because you always linger on the results that might or might not come. Although stress is a common occurrence during the treatment, it becomes a real problem if it grows to a level that can interfere with the success rates. And this is where you find the point crucial to gauge your level of stress and the need to have it eliminated through the use of techniques such as massage therapy, yoga, meditation, and journaling.
b. Build an effective support system: Due to the harsh aspects of IVF treatments, make sure that your friends, family, and partner are all in place to help you in the process. Be sure to let them know through both words and actions that you rely on them for the backup that will be there for all the positive and negative changes you may undergo.
c. Understand that mood changes are part of the process: It’s pretty normal to have mood swings during IVF treatment, and as such, strong emotional highs and lows, which are the symbolic points of a rollercoaster, tend to be more exposed in the patient’s mental health. Another thing which makes it even harder is the use of the hormone medications that can push your mood into the extremes like excitement, anxiety, and fear. This is why you should practice various relaxation techniques to calm your mood.
5. Focus on financial planning
There you are yourself, meet Dr. Sarkar personally and get a clear explanation of the total cost of IVF. Important points to know are medications involved, IVF process, and the additional techniques. Something we recommend is asking the doctor about the available financing or payment program, which can be your helping hand while you are trying to be treated.
6. Stay patient during the two-week wait
Besides, remember to follow the directions that your doctor has told you. If you get confirmation of the pregnancy, you will need to go through a process of proper checking. However, even if your first trial is negative, do not be depressed, since a lot of couples went through multiple attempts before they finally succeeded.
