How to Boost IVF Success and the Symptoms to Expect

You always hear that getting pregnant and having a baby is a magical time in people’s lives. However, it is also often an incredibly stressful time. And that is perhaps especially the case for couples who struggle to get pregnant or who are in same-sex relationships and pursuing alternative pregnancy options. Approximately 10% of couples struggle to get pregnant. And 2% of babies born each year are born as the result of in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

Despite the thousands of people who seek IVF treatment each year, relatively few people feel comfortable talking about their experiences. Many people view infertility as a challenge to their masculinity and femininity. Some also blame themselves for their struggles to get pregnant. However, infertility is very common. It is also influenced by a large number of factors, some within and many beyond our control.

In this post, I’ll talk about the IVF treatment process, symptoms you can expect with IVF, and how to improve your chances at IVF success. As part of this, I’ll discuss lifestyle factors that may play a role in IVF success, including your diet.

Before starting, however, I want to note that I am not a medical professional. It is very important to seek the opinion of a fertility doctor or specialist before making any medical or health decisions.

The IVF Treatment Process

IVF is a form of assistive reproductive technology. When a couple experiences difficulty conceiving or can’t conceive as a same-sex couple, an IVF pregnancy is often an option. 

Preparation Steps

With the IVF procedure, the female undergoing the procedure is often first given fertility drugs that contain Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Usually, a female’s body produces one egg per month. However, these fertility drugs tell a woman’s body to produce more eggs than usual. The more eggs a woman produces, the more likely she’ll be to successfully fertilize one or more.

Throughout this process, the fertility clinic may do blood tests to check hormone levels.

About a day before the egg retrieval, the female then receives hormonal medications that help the eggs mature more rapidly so that they’re ready for egg collection.

Egg and Sperm Extraction

Next, mature eggs are extracted from the female patient. At the same time, the male partner or donor provides a sperm sample. The fertility clinic will then check for the healthiest sperm and the healthiest eggs.

One or more of those mature eggs (now called embryos) are then fertilized with sperm in a lab. They may also do genetic testing to assess the health of embryos. For a frozen embryo transfer, the embryos will be stored for months or even years before being transferred. In contract, for a fresh embryo transfer, the embryos will be transferred a few days after the extraction.

Embryo Transfer Day and the Aftermath

On embryo transfer day, the fertilized egg (or eggs) are transferred back to the female patient’s uterus. If the fertility treatment is successful, the embryo(s) will attach to the female’s uterus. It sounds like a simple process, but it’s usually about 2 weeks from start to finish.

The female patient may also receive hormone pills or shots to help increase the odds of successful implantation. She can end up taking these medications for up to a couple weeks after the embryo transfer.

Doctors recommend following a 2-week wait between embryo transfer and taking a pregnancy test to get the most accurate results.

Success Rates of Treatment

The IVF process is intense. However, it’s luckily one of the most effective fertility-related medical procedures out there. On average, 45% of couples under age 35 experience a successful pregnancy after IVF. That number drops to about 32% for women who are 35-37-years-old and 20.2% for women 38-40-years-old.

The embryo transfer procedure is more likely to be successful if a higher number of embryos are transferred. At the same time, that increases the risk that women will have multiple births (i.e. twins, triplets, etc.) which can increase pregnancy complications. A reproductive endocrinologist can help you determine the best course of action.

I’ll discuss factors below that can impact the rates of successful IVF outcomes below.

IVF Symptoms

The IVF cycle can come with a variety of possible side effects that vary depending on the IVF stage. For example, the hormone medications that lead to ovarian stimulation often have side effects like headaches, nausea, bloating, hot flashes, breast tenderness, and mood swings, among other possible symptoms.

Some of the drugs can also lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is when your body responds too much to the medication. The symptoms above can become even more exaggerated. In extreme cases, rapid weight gain, blood clots, and severe nausea and abdominal pain can occur.

The egg retrieval can come with its own symptoms. The most common symptoms include mild cramping, bloating, pelvic discomfort, spotting, and constipation. These symptoms luckily tend to be mild. Most people can resume their normal activities the next day.

If the physical symptoms noted above weren’t enough, the embryo transfer comes with more symptoms! Specifically, it can lead to spotting, sore breasts, vaginal discharge, frequent urination, missed periods, pelvic discomfort, abdominal pain, fatigue, and morning sickness.

Luckily, many of those symptoms are also early pregnancy symptoms. Consequently, it can be a positive sign to experience any of those symptoms. That being said, 10-15% of women don’t have any symptoms after implantation and get pregnant and those symptoms can also be the result of taking progesterone after implantation. So having no symptoms is not necessarily a bad sign either.

Additionally, the stress of IVF can impact your mental health. It’s important to remember that trying to get pregnant is a stressful process. Those going through IVF may benefit from going to therapy or seeking other kinds of mental health support.

How to Improve the Chances of Success

The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of a negative result. Of course, there are no magic bullets. However, the best way to improve your odds is, conveniently, to follow many recommendations that hold for a healthy life regardless of the circumstances. I’ll go over each of these below.

What Is An IVF Diet?

The best diet to improve your odds of a healthy pregnancy includes plentiful amounts of essential nutrients, healthy fats, and lean proteins. Indeed, male and female fertility can be impaired by nutrient deficiencies. In particular, nutrients like protein, iron, Vitamin B, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and calcium play a vital role in the quality of eggs and sperm, blood flow, and immune system health.

However, iron deficiency is very common, especially among young women. About 8-10% of the population also has deficiencies in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D. While the other nutrient deficiencies are somewhat less common, they can make a big difference in your chances of success if you do experience them. Consequently, you might consider getting tested for nutrient deficiencies and following an IVF diet plan to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients for your unique needs.

Additionally, some women have too little or too much body fat to support pregnancy. Indeed, fat plays an important role in hormone levels. Too little or too much fat can occur because of disordered eating, including under- and over-eating. However, it can also occur because of too much or little exercise or eating too much or little of high fat foods. If you consume too little fat, you may notice that your menstrual cycle is unusually short or light.

Finally, the best IVF diet is one that is well-balanced and makes you feel good. A well-balanced diet can include desserts and snacks in moderation. The key is to try and follow a healthy diet most of the time. My mantra is that if 10% of my diet is unhealthy, I’ll be totally fine as long as the other 90% supports my overall health.

Foods to Include in a Fertility Diet

The list of foods below all help support a healthy pregnancy.

IVF Diet Foods to Improve Iron Levels

• Leafy greens like spinach, kale, and arugula are packed with nutrients including iron, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K that help support your immune system, blood flow, and lower your risk of a premature birth. Conveniently, Vitamin C improves iron absorption. Consequently, you may find it useful to consume foods high in both Vitamin C and iron, like green leafy vegetables. Note too that, if possible, you may want to purchase organic produce to lower your exposure to pesticides, which can negatively affect egg quality.
• Lean meats, beef especially is high in iron.
• Shellfish like clams, oysters, and mussels are also great sources of iron. Plus, iron in meat and fish are more readily available to our bodies than iron in plant sources. Shellfish and lean meat also contain high amounts of other nutrients like Vitamin B.
• Eggs

• Tofu
• Beans (lentils especially!)
• Oats
• Pumpkin seeds
• Dark Chocolate. However, not all kinds are high in iron, so be sure to check labels!

IVF Diet Foods for Vitamin B

Vitamin B actually includes 8 vitamins that all operate similarly, including niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, B6, B12, and folate (or folic acid). While all of these vitamins play an important role in energy, they have unique benefits as well. So you want to consume all of them.

• Whole grains are filled with B vitamins like folic acid and niacin that support healthy pregnancies. Focus on whole grains like brown rice, whole wheat, sorghum, and buckwheat that have limited processing.
• Salmon is high in B vitamins, Vitamin D, healthy fatty acids, and lots of other things that help support a healthy pregnancy.
• Eggs are also high in both B vitamins and Vitamin D and many other nutrients.
• Nutritional yeast
• Sunflower seeds
• Fortified cereals can contain lots of B vitamins and Vitamin D
• Some of the foods mentioned above, including lean meat, shellfish, leafy greens, and beans are also great sources of B.

Foods with Healthy Fats

• Olive oil
• Avocados

• Dairy products like yogurt and low-fat dairy milk are full of healthy fats, Vitamin D, and protein. They help promote fullness and support hormones.
• Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and trout
• Nuts like walnuts, pistachios, and almonds
• Seeds like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds are packed with healthy fat, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. They’re also a great lean protein source.

IVF Diet Foods to Boost Vitamin C

• Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. are full of Vitamin C and other antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress in our bodies, which is basically the cellular breakdown that occurs when we’re exposed to pollution and toxins and the general aging process.
  • A note, try to consume fresh foods that are high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C breaks down with exposure to water and high temperature, so cooking can quickly reduce nutrient levels.
• Berries are also full of different kinds of antioxidants, including Vitamin C. Plus, they have fiber which plays a crucial role in our gut health and can help moderate our blood sugar levels.
• Leafy greens! What can I say, they are sort of the star of the health show.

You might also consider adding a prenatal vitamin to your routine, especially if you struggle to get in a wide variety of the whole foods mentioned above. That being said, remember that a prenatal vitamin is not a replacement for healthy eating. Indeed, we don’t absorb the nutrients from vitamins as well as do from eating healthy food.

Finally, aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. In fact, the Mayo Clinic recommends that women consume 11.5 cups of fluid a day and men consume 15.5 cups a day.

Foods to Avoid for an IVF Diet

Just as there are many foods that are great to consume to support pregnancy, there are also foods that have negative effects on fertility.

In particular, highly processed food and fast food are often high in unhealthy fats like saturated fat and trans fats. They also have few healthy nutrients. As a result, they can have adverse effects on your fertility journey and even increase your risk of health complications like gestational diabetes.

Additionally, red meat and foods high in sugar play a significant role in inflammation. As a result, they can negatively affect fertility and embryonic development. Red meat is often high in iron, so it has an important, albeit, moderate role in a healthy diet.

Consequently, if you are struggling to get pregnant, it may be helpful to limit your consumption of foods with high amounts of unhealthy fats and sugar and that are highly processed.

Lifestyle Factors That Impact IVF

Aside from your diet, there are a few other lifestyle changes that can boost fertility and support your IVF journey. First, aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Researchers have found that adequate sleep is an important factor behind successful pregnancies. Women tend to need more sleep than men. Consequently, if you have the flexibility, consider letting yourself sleep a little longer. You can also check out my post on sleeping tips if you struggle to get good quality sleep.

Additionally, low stress plays an important role in a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately that’s way easier said than done, especially when you’re going through fertility difficulties. However, spending time with loved ones, setting clear work/life boundaries, journaling, meditating, and engaging in activities you love can all help reduce stress.

Doctors also recommend that you engage in regular, moderate activity to improve blood flow and boost fertility (about 150 minutes per week). Over-exercising and intense exercise can actually impair reproductive health. So for best results, try sticking with moderate activities like walking, hiking, biking, yoga, light jogging, and other activities that are not super strenuous like long distance running or heavy weight lifting.

Final Thoughts on IVF Symptoms and Influential Factors

Going through IVF is often immensely stressful. However, understanding the process and symptoms can help prepare you for the process. Moreover, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help set you up for better odds of success. I hope this article has given you the tools to feel more confident about IVF. And, even more, I wish the best for you and your health.

As noted above, I am not a fertility specialist. This information is solely provided for informational and entertainment purposes. Before making any changes to your health or healthcare treatments, speak to a healthcare provider about treatment options.

If you enjoyed this post, please consider liking, subscribing, or sharing with others. It’s always a big help! Interested in related content? Check out my comprehensive guide to increasing your chances of getting pregnant in your 30s and 40s. Likewise, you can check out my guides to the best diet for promoting hormone balance, acupuncture for fertility, and pairing nutrients for maximum nutritional benefit.