Preparing for the IVF Process with Success

Couples who have problems with infertility, namely the inability to get pregnant after having sex regularly for one year without contraception, can now consider IVF procedures. Before undergoing a pregnancy program through IVF, you need to know what preparations are needed so that this procedure can successfully give birth to you and your partner. Handling of infertility problems tends to depend on the underlying cause. In addition to lifestyle changes, there are several pregnancy programs that are usually recommended by doctors, including through medical drugs, surgery, artificial insemination and IVF procedures.

Planning a Pregnancy

Age plays an important role for fertility. Healthy couples aged 20-30 years, have a 25-30% chance of pregnancy per menstrual cycle. When entering the age of 40 years, a woman's chance to get pregnant decreases, which is less than 10% in each cycle. Similarly, male fertility decreases with age. For married couples over the age of 35 years, fertility evaluation and treatment can be done after 6 months of regular sexual intercourse without contraception but have not gotten a baby. As for couples over the age of 40 years, it is recommended to conduct an evaluation and immediately plan a pregnancy program. That is, the longer the delay in undergoing a pregnancy program, the less chance of pregnancy and the higher the risk that may be experienced during pregnancy. If this is the problem that you are facing, then maybe this is the time for you and your partner to seek professional and experienced medical assistance in the fertility field, to determine an appropriate pregnancy program. One of them is with IVF program.

Efforts to Achieve Pregnancy with IVF

IVF technology or often referred to as in vitro fertilization (IVF) is another way that can be taken by married couples who want a pregnancy but cannot get pregnant naturally. This program will only be recommended by doctors if other methods to have a baby have been tried and do not provide the desired results. IVF method is done by combining selected eggs and sperm in the laboratory, so that fertilization and embryo occurs. Then, the embryos formed are transferred into the womb of a woman to develop into a fetus and are born. In IVF procedures, eggs, sperm, or embryos can come from you and your partner. But if it's not possible, you can get it from a donor. In addition, you need to understand that the success of IVF is influenced by several factors, namely:

1. Patient specific factors. Factors such as age and causes of infertility, as well as psychological conditions (stress).
2. Ovarian stimulation procedure. This is to stimulate egg cell production.
3. Doctor's clinical experience about IVF.
4. Embryology laboratory facilities. The facility determines the quality of fertilization and embryo formation.
5. Number of embryos per transfer. The more amount transferred, the greater the chances of getting pregnant, even increasing the likelihood of multiple pregnancies.
6. Embryo transfer technique is done
7. Luteal phase supportive therapy. This therapy is useful to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, and reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Therefore, the experience of doctors in the field of IVF and existing facilities in IVF clinics or hospitals, has a great influence on the success of IVF.

Tips for Successful Pregnancy with IVF Program

In vitro fertilization programs help increase opportunities for healthy pregnancy. In order for your IVF program to run smoothly, here are a few tips you can do to prepare for success to get a baby:

• Consultation and comprehensive health examination

A thorough health examination is useful to give an idea of ​​the physical conditions that may be related to the level of fertility you and your partner. Starting from medical history data, physical examination, to supporting examinations such as complete blood tests, pap smears, menstrual cycle review, ovarian examination and egg quality in women, male fertility tests (sperm analysis), as well as ensuring vaccination history, including tetanus and TORCH .

• Healthy eating patterns

A healthy diet and balanced nutrition plays an important role for your fertility, including helping to improve the success of IVF. Expand to eat fruits and vegetables and calcium-rich foods, such as milk and low-fat yogurt. Eat a variety of protein sources, such as nuts, seeds, processed soy products, and meat. Although fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids for your baby's brain and eye development, it is recommended to limit its intake, especially those containing high mercury such as cob, tuna, and mackerel. Also avoid foods with excessive fat content, or that contain dyes, flavorings, and chemical preservatives.

• Healthy lifestyles

Stop smoking and avoid exposure to cigarette smoke. Smoking has a bad effect on fertility and pregnancy. In men, smoking can reduce sperm quality. This habit can also reduce your level of success in undergoing IVF. Also avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and limit consumption of caffeine, no more than 200 mg of caffeine (2 cups) per day. Complete with adequate rest (sleeping 6-8 hours per day), and regular exercise.

• Maintain body weight

Underweight or excessive weight can affect fertility. Improve and maintain ideal body weight by maintaining eating patterns and exercising according to doctor's recommendations.

Avoid exercising too often or too heavily. Walking, jogging, yoga, and swimming are good exercises to reduce stress and support the body in preparing for pregnancy.

• Multivitamin and folic acid intake

Taking vitamins and folic acid at least 400 micrograms per day before pregnancy according to doctor's recommendations, can help you supplement your nutritional intake needed for pregnancy, and can reduce the chance of your baby suffering from birth defects, such as spina bifida.

• Avoid stress

Stress is not good for pregnancy preparation. More positive activities and environments, such as joining community groups participating in IVF, encouraging one another among community members, or doing massage and acupuncture therapy, can help deal with stress.

In addition to the various tips above, you are strongly advised to follow all the doctor's recommendations during the IVF program. Although the success rate of IVF also depends on age, health conditions, and how severe infertility problems are experienced, doing these tips will increase the chances of pregnancy.