If you and your partner have decided you need help with conception, an IVF doctor in Singapore can help you get started with one of the most effective fertility treatments. But while a lot more is possible with today’s IVF medicine and technology, there are certain requirements to meet before IVF treatment becomes a viable solution. Read on to learn more about the IVF procedure and what it entails to be better informed and prepared for the process and, possibly, improve your chances of success.
An Overview of IVF
The in-vitro fertilization treatment uses fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries and prompts the production of more than one egg at a time. Once these eggs mature, they are retrieved, undergo egg freezing in Singapore, and fertilized with the father’s sperm in a lab. This is followed by the frozen embryo transfer, wherein the resulting early-stage embryo is put back into the uterus and attaches to the uterine wall to achieve pregnancy.
Pre-Screening for an IVF Cycle
Preparing for a successful IVC cycle requires getting testing done ahead of time. It allows your physician to identify which medication protocol is best for your specific case and increases the odds of a successful outcome. Before starting this cycle, couples undergo comprehensive fertility and medical tests like blood tests and semen evaluation for male patients. Other commonly recommended tests include:
Ovarian Reserve Testing — checks for AFC (Antral Follicles Count) or the sum of follicles on both ovaries and AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) to determine ovarian reserve.
Uterine Lining Ultrasound — measures the thickness of the endometrium and verifies whether there are any abnormalities in the uterus.
Infectious Blood Test Panel — testing for an infectious panel is vital before treatment, as infectious diseases are among the common causes of infertility.
What Else Can I Do To Make IVF Successful?
1. Add supplements to your diet
Women can take certain supplements in preparation for IVF treatment, specifically:
- Vitamin D: Since having enough Vitamin D may positively affect how the body responds to IVF treatment, it is important to ensure you do not have Vitamin D deficiency.
- DHEA and CoQ10: these two supplements are believed to potentially have a positive impact on egg quality.
- Prenatal vitamins: these types of vitamins are often prescribed by doctors when trying to become pregnant.
Do note that these supplements are based on a generic guide and should not be consumed without approval from your fertility specialist. In order to avoid any complications, we recommend consulting with our doctors – Dr Loh and Dr Tung – first before consuming these supplements and vitamins.
2. Manage your weight and stress levels
A healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), low-stress levels, and good mental health are all essential for IVF success and improving pregnancy rates. Maintaining a low BMI is vital as a high BMI may result in poor outcomes with IVF and increase the risk of complications once you get pregnant. As such, contact your healthcare provider to learn what BMI is healthy for you before trying to get pregnant.
3. Monitor alcohol and caffeine intake
Since excessive caffeine intake could hinder your ability to conceive during treatment, make sure to reduce or outright eliminate caffeine from your diet when preparing for your IVF cycle.
4. Improve sperm health
There are many ways to improve the sperm health of your partner, such as avoiding excessive alcohol intake, heavy exercise (light exercise is safe!), certain drugs, heat exposure, and many other damaging environmental factors. On top of that, eating a healthy diet, maintaining normal body weight, and reducing stress also helps.
5. Evaluate your medications
It is important to inform your fertility specialist about your current medications when preparing for the start of your IVF cycle. Medications for anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions, in particular, must be mentioned to your physician. This is to verify whether your medicines are causing your hormonal imbalances or may interfere with fertility drugs.
Getting Started with IVF Treatment
During the initial consultation with your fertility specialist, asking as many questions as you want is recommended until you feel comfortable and confident to proceed with the treatment. With the IVF process being very thorough and detailed, it only makes sense to be prepared for what the next few weeks or months may involve.
When you’re ready to begin with IVF treatment, our fertility specialists at the The O&G Specialist Clinic will guide you every step of the way and provide you with all the support you need to achieve your goal of starting a family. Under our care, you can rest assured that your treatments will be tailored to your unique situation to provide you with the greatest odds of conceiving.
Schedule an appointment with us today to find out how we can help.
