IVF Diet Chart – Foods to Eat During IVF Treatment

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IVF Diet Chart –  In-vitro fertilization treatment offers a 30-40% success rate for women of fertile age. IVF experts have concluded that diet has no significant contribution to deciding the success rate of IVF treatment. However, it affects the quality of the eggs the ovaries produce and the overall reproductive health. It would help if you stuck to a diet chart and a healthy lifestyle to succeed in your IVF treatment. 

Gut health and healthy defection are decisive elements of conception and healthy pregnancy. To ensure the proper upkeep of reproductive health, consuming a diet rich in micronutrients and macronutrients is vital.  

The first step is to increase the number of meals you take and break every meal into smaller ones. So it’s advised to take five meals in a day! Yes, you heard it right. Make sure that you cover all the essential nutrients. 

Some Strict IVF Diet Chart during IVF Treatment.

Before moving ahead to the diet chart to follow during IVF, it is advised that you steer clear of smoking and drinking. Medical evidence has cemented that consumption of alcohol and smoking hampers the process of egg maturation, which results in chromosomal abnormalities. Also, regular and excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco further causes problems in conceiving and carrying the pregnancy to term. 

Apart from smoking and drinking, reproductive specialists also advise limiting caffeine intake to one to two cups or 200 mg daily to stay safer. Also, the female partner should not consume energy drinks containing caffeine during IVF.  

Foods to Eat during IVF Treatment 

IVF Diet Chart

1. Protein-Rich Food-:

Apart from being the body’s building blocks, proteins also help in the ovulation process and the development of eggs in the female. Dairy products, well-boiled eggs, yoghurt, soya, broccoli, lentils, and meat contain numerous proteins. Doctors recommend that a woman, during her IVF treatment, consume 60 grams of protein in her daily diet. 

2. Zinc-Rich Food-:

Zinc plays an essential role in maintaining the balance of hormones and ovulation. A woman should consume around 15 milligrams of zinc-rich food during the day. Dairy products, whole grains, beans, breakfast cereals, sesame seeds, flax seeds, kidney beans, and nuts are excellent sources of zinc that the woman should consume during IVF treatment.

3. Remember Your daily dose of Vitamin D-: 

Vitamin D helps produce good-quality eggs that can be used for IVF. So, a woman needs to consume vitamin D, which is present in cow’s milk, cod liver oil, fortified cereals, soy milk, etc. 

4. Healthy Unsaturated Fat-:

Harvard School of Public Health finds that a diet containing healthy unsaturated fats like avocados and olive oil helps boost live birth rates.

5. Folic Acid during and after IVF Treatment-: 

Folic acid plays a vital role in developing a child’s brain and spinal cord. To ensure their proper formation, 400 mcg of folic acid, found in green leafy vegetables, should be consumed by the female partner during IVF treatment. 

6. Iron-Rich Food-:

Iron plays a significant role in maintaining the health of the eggs and ovulation. Reproductive specialists say that a woman, during her IVF treatment, should consume more than 27 grams of iron in the form of green leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, oysters, spinach, and beans daily. Make sure that your per-day iron intake should not exceed 45 grams. 

Iron deficiency can cause anaemia, reduced libido, oxidative damage to ovulation, and may also lead to premature births or a pretty small baby.  

7. Fresh Fruits Can Be Your True Pregnancy Friend-: 

Fruits like bananas and pineapples are quite beneficial in a woman’s pregnancy journey. Bananas are a great source of vitamin B6, essential for the healthy regulation of periods. Pineapples are rich in manganese, which helps in the nutritious secretion of reproductive hormones. 

8. Hydration is Equally Essential-: 

Any IVF diet chart stands complete with adequate water intake. 6-8 glasses of water a day will help prepare the uterus for embryo implantation by thickening the uterine lining. It’s also crucial to keep your water intake in check to ensure proper digestion and circulation of the above-mentioned essential vitamins and minerals during IVF treatment. 

Summing up the IVF Diet Chart

Imprimis IVF, the best IVF centre in Srinagar, has summed up all the food sources consisting of the nutrients mentioned above that will serve as a boon in your IVF journey-: 

  • Fruits like bananas, pomegranates, and pineapple
  • Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and potatoes 
  • Fresh green leafy vegetables
  • Other fresh citrus fruits and vegetables 
  • Avocados and corn
  • Beetroot and sweet potato 
  • Low-fat dairy products and water 
  • Nuts (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein) and berries 
  • Whole grains, legumes (chickpea, soybean, pea), beans, and lentils
  • Lean meat and salmon 

Diet alone may not be able to fulfil all your dietary needs during IVF treatment, so the doctors may advise you to take some multivitamin supplements to prepare your body for the journey. 

Foods to Avoid During Your IVF Treatment 

Foods to avoid during IVF Treatment

Now that you have a good idea of the foods you should include in your diet during your IVF journey, it’s equally important to know the foods that must be kept at bay. 

1. Food Containing Artificial Sweeteners and Refined Sugars-:

Artificial sweeteners and refined sugars negatively affect conception. So, it is advised to women undergoing IVF treatment to stick to healthy sugars and avoid bakery products like biscuits and cakes. 

2. Raw Eggs-: 

It is advised to avoid consuming raw eggs, which are present in processed food products like mayonnaise and salad dressing, as it may lead to food poisoning. 

3. Saturated Fats-:

Doctors have found that food containing saturated fats can hamper conception by lowering the number of eggs used for fertilization in IVF. Foods containing high levels of saturated fats include white rice, cheese, butter, and fatty processed meats. 

4. Avoid Seafood-: 

Although seafood is packed with the goodness of essential fatty acids and proteins, it also contains mercury. Mercury present in tuna and mackerel can lead to complications in the growth of the fetus and may also lead to congenital disabilities. 

5 Nicotine and other Drugs-: 

As already mentioned, smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited during IVF. A woman should also stay away from nicotine and other drugs. 

Avoid sodas, spicy junk food, pickles, vinegar, unpasteurized milk, and canned and processed food. 

Is it true that IVF Treatment will be Successful in the first go? 

It is a common misconception that couples have about IVF treatment. But the fact is that no fertility treatment centre can guarantee a 100% success rate. The medical expertise and infrastructure required for IVF treatment vary from clinic to clinic. 

However, reproductive specialists worldwide have advised specific preventive measures that a couple can follow to welcome a healthy baby in a minimum number of IVF cycles. 

The Right IVF Clinic will help Increase Your Success Rate-:

In-vitro fertilization is a highly complicated Assisted Reproductive Technology.

The right clinic will offer you a promise of excellent medical expertise and state-of-the-art lab fertility technology like Imprimis IVF, the best IVF centre in Srinagar can help increase your success rate by a good percentage. So, consider all the necessary things before finalizing your IVF fertility centre. 

Keep Your Dosage and Medication Timing in check-:

Don’t skip your hormonal medications at any cost. Ensure that you take your IVF pills and injectibles at the right time. 

Say No to Strict Bed Rest-:

After any medical treatment, the doctor advises you to rest and give your body time to heal. It would be best if you did the same after embryo transfer. However you must understand that IVF treatment differs entirely from other medical procedures. 

The doctor will not advise strict bed rest for you. The reason behind this is that when your brain is inactive. 

Positivity and Faith in the Process are Equally Important-:

A couple should never forget that positivity and complete confidence in the IVF treatment will serve as a pillar to bring positive pregnancy results. 

Conclusion about IVF Diet Chart

Avoid making any drastic changes in your diet when it comes to food. It’s best to consult a reproductive specialist before IVF treatment to choose the best diet plan that suits your needs. If you are looking for the best yet affordable IVF treatment in Srinagar, we wholeheartedly welcome you at Imprimis IVF, Srinagar. 

IVF vs IUI Which is Better

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IVF vs IUI

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) offers several treatment options for infertile couples to achieve pregnancy. However, it might be overwhelming for a couple to choose the best one for them. In most cases, couples are stuck between In-vitro fertilization and Intrauterine insemination. The answer to this tussle between IVF vs IUI is based on several medical and financial parameters. In this article, Imprimis IVF, the best IVF centre in Srinagar, will help you find your answer. 

Whether a couple should opt for IVF vs IUI depends on a range of essential factors like age, genetic condition, medical condition of the couple, previous ART treatment failures, etc. The fertility expert can only decide which is better after running various tests and examining your situation thoroughly.  

Female fertility revolves around the well-being of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. If these reproductive parts’ natural functioning is compromised for any reason, it may lead to infertility. 

Sperm Morphology-: 

Sperm Morphology considers the shape and size of the sperm ejaculated by the male partner. Semen analysis is conducted. Sperm ejaculated by the man is examined based on three parameters: 

Sperm Motility-: 

The sperm should be able to swim through the female reproductive system to fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube. Typically, the motility of the sperm should be 40% to reach the egg for fertilization. 

Sperm Count-: 

Ideally, the male partner should ejaculate more than 15 million sperm per ml of the semen sample. 

Nature and Cost of IUI and IVF Treatment

Intrauterine insemination is the most basic ART procedure. It is because IUI is a more natural process, as the egg fertilizes inside the female uterus, just like in natural conception. At the same time, In-vitro fertilization is a complicated procedure that involves five steps. In IVF, the egg fertilizes on a petri dish in a state-of-the-art laboratory, i.e., outside the uterus of the woman. The embryo so formed is implanted in the uterus, where it grows into a baby. 

In addition, IUI is an easy, cost-effective, and less time-consuming fertility treatment. In IUI, a couple has fewer appointments with the reproductive specialist than in IVF.

IUI treatment costs in India vary with geographical location and medical history. But on average, the cost lies somewhere between 8,000 to 25,000 INR. The cost of IUI treatment in Srinagar is between 15,000 to 35,000 INR. 

The cost of IVF treatment in India greatly varies with the location of the fertility clinic, the medical condition of the couple, medical expertise, and infrastructure. Considering all these factors, the cost is estimated to be around 1,00,000 to 3,50,000 INR. The average IVF treatment cost in Srinagar is between 1,00,000 to 2,75,000 INR. If you are looking for the best IVF centre in Srinagar that is also affordable, there’s no better option than Imprimis IVF. 

Conditions that Point Toward IUI Treatment 

IUI is generally performed when the female partner is fertile and has no other medical conditions that may cause any issue in achieving pregnancy. But the sperm ejaculated by the male partner cannot fertilize the egg. IUI is also recommended for a male with retrograde ejaculation and unexplained infertility. 

The sperm sample of the male partner is prepared. This process is termed sperm preparation. The semen sample is washed or processed to remove all the impurities. Good quality and motile sperm are separated. Then with the help of a catheter, the selected sperm is injected directly into the uterus of the female partner. The entire IUI process of injecting sperm takes 5-10 minutes and is generally performed without anaesthesia. 

Conditions that Point Toward IVF Treatment

IVF starts with stimulating the ovaries, followed by egg retrieval. Side by side, sperm are also retrieved from the male partner. The 4th step is fertilizing the egg, which gets implanted in the uterus. The entire IVF process ideally takes 6-8 weeks to complete. 

IVF treatment is majorly recommended for women with the following medical conditions.

  • If the IUI procedure fails three consecutive times, it is advised to go for IVF treatment.
  • Genetic disorders.
  • The woman’s age is above 35 years.
  • Blocked fallopian tubes
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
  • Recurrent abortions.
  • In case a woman has a poor ovarian reserve.
  • A woman with endometriosis(the proper implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall) can rely on IVF.
  • A couple has been trying to conceive for more than a decade without success.

Medical Conditions in Men

Apart from women-related fertility issues, some severe medical conditions in men might be the root cause of infertility. IVF is found to be the most suitable fertility treatment for the following medical conditions in men-: 

  • If the male partner has severe oligospermia, the sperm concentration is as low as 1-5 million sperm per millilitre of the semen sample. 
  • A man may have azoospermia which is a severe reproductive shortcoming. In azoospermia, zero or no sperms are ejaculated during intercourse.
  • IVF is one of the best treatments for males with genetic conditions like Klinefelter Syndrome.

IVF also unlocks the opportunity for couples to choose donor embryos, donor eggs, and donor sperm to get pregnant. Same-sex couples can also welcome their little ones with IVF. Another boon of IVF treatment is that a couple with medical ailments may seek a surrogate mother. 

In the modern era, people prefer not to marry in their twenties. But because pregnancy is an age-dependent parameter, infertility is rising due to modern choices and lifestyle. However, at the same time, the youth is gaining more awareness about infertility and its treatment options. 

Nowadays, a plethora of young people is taking the help of IVF to freeze their eggs and sperm to stay on the safer side. If natural conception doesn’t bring fruitful results, they can use their frozen eggs and sperm reserve timely and embark on their journey of parenthood. 

Which is more Painful, IVF vs IUI? 

IUI is a painless procedure generally carried out without giving anaesthesia to the woman. You may feel a sense of discomfort when the needle carrying the washed and processed sperm makes its way through the vagina to reach the egg. If a patient is sensitive to a needle, then the patient is given some painkillers before the treatment. 

Moving further to IVF, it is also a painless treatment. However, a woman sensitive to injections can feel a little pain as 15-30 injections are administered to stimulate the ovaries. Apart from this, the entire procedure of IVF doesn’t involve any surgery that may cause pain. 

Success Rates of Intrauterine Insemination and In-vitro Fertilization

The success rates of IUI lie between 12-15% per attempt. In contrast, the success rates of IVF lie between 30-40% per cycle. The success rates of IVF vary significantly with the age of a woman. If a woman is under 35 years of age, then she has a better success rate of getting pregnant with IVF. But if a woman is over 35, success rates fall between 25% and 30% per cycle. 

Once a woman crosses 40, IVF success rates decline to 16% per cycle. And as she reaches 45, the chances of success stand at 7% per cycle. 

Some people have this misconception that IVF will result in pregnancy. But in reality, IVF has its fair share of limitations. Some couples have been through several cycles of IVF but are still struggling to get pregnant. 

It is a fact that IVF offers a higher chance of conceiving a baby. However, it must be remembered that IVF doesn’t provide a 100% guarantee of achieving pregnancy. Medical studies and research are in progress to develop methods that increase the success rate, especially in older women. 

A couple needs to undergo IVF treatment in a laboratory equipped with modern incubators, microscopes, lasers, fertilization media, coda air filters, micromanipulators, workstations, filters, etc. If you are looking for one such laboratory armed with medical expertise for your IVF treatment in Srinagar, we welcome you with open arms at Imprimis IVF. 

Final Words for IVF vs IUI

Articles, videos, and other material help you know and understand medical treatments like IVF vs IUI. However, these sources alone can’t be used to decide the best treatment option. Every couple has specific medical conditions that can not be generalized. Only a reproductive expert can help you choose the best for you and increase your chances of success. Imprimis IVF, the best IVF centre in Srinagar, cordially requests you to visit an experienced fertility expert for consultation. 

The success rate of ART also depends on your lifestyle, stress levels, and mindset. So, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude so that you will be a parent very soon!

What is Recurrent Abortion – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Recurrent Abortion: A miscarriage is a common mishappening. Around 15 to 20% of couples have had a miscarriage in their journey to parenthood. However, if you have a miscarriage every time you try to carry your pregnancy to term, you may need to seek timely medical guidance from an obstetrician.

Miscarriage is an age-dependent event. The risk of miscarriage in women below 30 is lower than in women over 35.

What is Recurrent Abortion?

Suppose a woman has two or more consecutive miscarriages before 20 weeks of pregnancy or the first trimester due to some complications. In that case, it is termed recurrent abortion or recurrent pregnancy loss.

Around 2-5% of couples around the globe are affected by recurrent pregnancy loss.

Recurrent Abortion Causes

Recurrent Abortion Causes

The root cause of recurrent abortion is complications in the embryo, the uterus, or the environment. Some of the recurrent abortion causes are stated below:

Genetic Abnormalities-:

The most common cause of recurrent abortion or recurrent miscarriage is genetic dysfunction. Twenty-three pairs of chromosomes are found in both men and women. 22 of the chromosomes are the same, but the last one decides the gender of the embryo.

The embryo takes half of the chromosomes from both parents. But sometimes, the chromosomes inherited by the embryo are abnormal. Due to these abnormal chromosomes, the woman has a recurrent abortion. The inheritance of abnormal chromosomes takes place naturally. However, this problem must be addressed by a fertility expert.

Uterine Anomalies-:

The uterus, or the womb, is the home of the growing fetus for nine months. Any problem associated with the shape of the uterus is bound to affect the embryo’s growth and may lead to recurrent miscarriage.

Uterine anomalies that lead to recurrent abortion are witnessed to affect 10-15% of women worldwide.

An abnormally shaped uterus in which only one side is fully developed, uterine fibroids, polyps, uterine septum, and double uterus in which the uterus is divided from the centre are some of the most common uterine anomalies.

Uterine anomalies are detected by running the following tests to determine the root cause and proceed with further diagnosis.

  • Ultrasound
  • Hysterosalpingography
  • Sonohysterography
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Laparoscopy

Antiphospholipid Syndrome-:

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a medical condition in which a person’s body starts producing antiphospholipid antibodies that attack the body’s internal system, resulting in the formation of clots and affecting pregnancy. The most common complications due to antiphospholipid syndrome that affect 3-15% of women include recurrent early abortion, late miscarriages, early preeclampsia, and stillbirths.

Hormonal and Metabolic Diseases-:

Metabolic and hormonal diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, PCOS, obesity, insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity, and untreated thyroid problems can be the causes of recurrent abortion. Also, if the female hormone responsible for a healthy pregnancy, progesterone, is not produced timely and in healthy amounts, this may lead to recurrent abortion.

Uterine Infections-:

Uterine and other bacterial infections like rubella, listeria, toxoplasmosis, and certain genital infections may contribute to miscarriages.

Apart from these, there are other less common causes of recurrent abortion, including stress, immunological causes that may treat the fetus as a foreign body and attack it, and cervical insufficiency.

Studies and research are still going on to identify the root cause of recurrent abortion and diagnose it accordingly.

Recurrent Abortion Symptoms

Recurrent Abortion Symptoms

Recurrent abortion may or may not be accompanied by any symptoms. However, if you are doubtful about your pregnancy, there are specific recurrent abortion symptoms that you can watch out for, like-as:

  • Bleeding or spotting
  • Frequent and excruciating contractions
  • Pain in the belly or back (mild to severe)
  • Discharge of pinkish-white mucus from the vagina
  • A clot-like tissue coming out from the vagina
  • Visible and sudden vanishing of signs of pregnancy
  • A constant feeling of grief

Preventive Measures to Avoid

If you want to increase your chances of delivering a baby by decreasing the risk of another miscarriage, there are certain precautions you can adopt for a positive outcome.

Experts state that the expecting couple can undertake the below-mentioned measures.

Plan Your Pregnancy at the Right Age-:

The risk of miscarriage increases with age. The rate of miscarriages witnesses a sharp increase once a woman crosses 30 years of age. This sharp increase is due to the increase in chromosomal abnormalities in the eggs produced by the ovaries. The most fertile age for women to become a mother is between 24 to 30. So, to reduce your risk of recurrent abortion, planning pregnancy at the right age is vital.

Maintain a healthy Body Mass Index-:

Medical experts believe a healthy body weight is essential for a healthy pregnancy. If the BMI is too low or too high, it may lead to complications in conceiving and sometimes may result in a miscarriage.

Proper and Timely Correction of Uterine Anomalies-:

Suppose the home of the growing embryo is not of the appropriate shape or has any other complication. In that case, it must be corrected timely under an experienced expert with the help of state-of-the-art technology available at fertility clinics like Imprimis IVF, Srinagar.

Check for any Antiphospholipid Syndrome Symptoms-:

Antiphospholipid syndrome must be checked for and diagnosed properly to end recurrent abortion.

Removal of Uterine Polyps and Uterine Fibroids-:

Uterine polyps and uterine fibroids should be removed if detected as the reason behind recurrent abortion.

Diabetes, Thyroid, and Kidney Problems must be addressed-:

Before thinking about conceiving, it is for the best that issues related to thyroid, kidney, and insulin production must be addressed to reduce the chances of recurrent abortion.

Addressing Hypertension Before Pregnancy-:

There is not much data to support the link between hypertension and pregnancy. However, experts believe that high blood pressure before conceiving may result in a miscarriage. So, it would help if you tried to bring your blood pressure under control to ensure a healthy and stress-free pregnancy.

Monitor Your Caffeine intake-:

It might be astonishing, but excessive caffeine consumption directly hampers your chances of carrying your pregnancy to term. Overconsumption of caffeine increases your heart rate as well as blood pressure. So, it is advised to cap your caffeine consumption to 150-200 milligrams per day to increase your chances of success in welcoming a healthy newborn.

Lifestyle Plays a Key Role-:

Following a healthy lifestyle can significantly help with a healthy pregnancy. The woman should avoid alcohol and tobacco during pregnancy to avoid any chances of miscarriage.

Recurrent Abortion Treatment

Recurrent Abortion Treatment

Recurrent abortion treatment is carried out after thoroughly examining the couple to identify the root cause. Based on the root cause, various treatment options are available to help prevent further miscarriages in women.

Some of the most trusted treatment options for recurrent abortion are stated below-:

In-vitro fertilization (IVF)-:

IVF treatment is a reliable option for couples with recurrent abortions. During this process, fertilization that naturally takes place in a woman’s vagina is carried out on a petri dish in a laboratory. Then after the successful fertilization of the egg, it is implanted in the woman’s uterus, where it grows for nine months.

Surgeries to fix Uterine Anomalies-:

After detecting the uterine anomaly, proper surgeries are undertaken by the reproductive specialist.

Treating other Medical Ailments-:

Diabetes, thyroid, and kidney problems are treated to increase the chances of a healthy nine months of pregnancy.

Medications to Prevent Blood Thinning and Clot Formation-:

Medications like Aspirin and Heparin are administered to the woman to avoid blood thinning and clotting.

The first step to diagnosing the problem of recurrent abortion is to consult an expert and avoid indulging in self-medication, as it may do more harm than good. Always remember stress-free lifestyle and a positive mindset are necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

Conclusion

We at Imprimis IVF understand that recurrent abortion can shatter hopes and bring sadness into your life. But the good news is recurrent abortion can be reversed with the proper treatment. The problem should be handled under the supervision and guidance of a good and experienced obstetrician. If you cannot carry a pregnancy to term, it is your calling to pay a visit to an obstetrician.