Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

WHAT TO BE CAREFUL ON IN THE FERTILITY JOURNEY

WHAT TO BE CAREFUL ON IN THE FERTILITY JOURNEY

Infertility is an issue that concerns many couples in modern western societies. Today, IVF has helped millions of couples around the world to have a baby.

 

Indeed, more than 8 million babies have been born from IVF since the world's first in 1978. If you too have a fertility problem and are considering IVF as a solution, keep reading this article, as we will analyze a simple list of what can you do to stay happy and healthy during the IVF process .. 

 

Make sure you fully understand the process

Ask the Reproductive Medicine specialist as many questions as possible so that there are no unexpected surprises. Make lists and do not be afraid to ask anything.

 

Essentially in vitro fertilization involves 3 separate procedures:

  1. Induction of ovulation (stimulation of the ovaries with medication to produce more eggs)
  2. Recovering eggs and fertilizing them with the sperm of your partner or a donor.
  3. Transfer of the fetus back to the female uterus

 

But these are just the basics. In fact, in vitro fertilization is much more complicated and many people are surprised to learn that it is not a one time clinic visit and you leave! 

The IVF process can be lengthy, require prior testing / procedures, and may require a lot of effort. In addition, there is no guarantee of a successful pregnancy. It is worth asking your clinic to be transparent about their success rates.

 

Reduce stress

Easier said than done, but try to relax your body and mind as much as possible when your IVF journey begins. When it comes to fertility treatment, it will be very beneficial for you to be in a positive and calm mental state. Meditation, yoga, diary, spending time to meet friends, relaxing at home watching a comedy on TV, going for a walk in nature will help boost your mood, reduce the chances of fighting when you feel stress and be in a receptive physical and mental state to the IVF process.

 

Do not let it take over your life 

IVF is a very important process, but make sure you keep doing the things you love - go to social events, go to the movies, go out at night for fun. You do not want to constantly think about IVF because it will overwhelm you and you will suffer. 

 

Try to focus on things you enjoy doing on your own or with others before you begin the process. It is important not to forget who you are. Focusing on other aspects of your life will also help you maintain a positive attitude.

 

Eat well and stay hydrated

Now is the time to prioritize your diet. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, good sources of fiber, complex carbohydrates and adequate protein. It is also important to maintain a good intake of vitamins and minerals. Try to avoid overly processed foods, sugar and alcohol during this period to ensure that your body is in excellent condition. It is also important to stay hydrated throughout IVF. The goal is to drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day.

 

Prioritize taking care of yourself

 Take care of yourself! Now more than ever, it's important to put yourself first. Right now you need to prioritize good sleep, continue light exercise and take care of yourself. Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep every night, do light exercise (swimming, yoga, cycling, pilates, walking) and do things that give you pleasure. Massage, facial care, shopping or reading a favorite book and generally everything that pleases you and is worth it to you.  

 

Seek and accept support

Whether it is your partner, a family member, a close friend, a health professional or a combination of all of the above, you will need a support network around you during the IVF process. Do not try to carry the weight yourself because you think you have to be "strong". It's normal to need support and help! Talking to someone else about what you are going through, having someone with you on your dates and having someone help you keep you grounded during the IVF process will make it ten times easier.

 

Final thoughts

Now is the time to really take care of your mind and body. Eat well, prioritize sleep, minimize stress, stay hydrated, seek support (professional and personal), pamper yourself and you will do great!

 

 

When you are trying to conceive and need fertility treatment, there are a number of female IVF diagnostic tests that can diagnose your infertility problem and give us the most appropriate treatment.

 

 

Hormone control

Hormone testing can give us an indication of everything from how many eggs you are able to produce to whether you may have an underlying medical condition - and all of this information will help us give you the right fertility treatment.

 

In women, we can use the hormone test to investigate possible causes of irregular menstruation and to check their ovarian reserves, which helps us understand how many eggs you may be able to produce during treatment. In men, certain hormones can be good indicators of how much sperm you can produce.

 

 

Check for repeated implant failure

There can be many reasons behind recurrent miscarriages or implant failures.

If you have experienced miscarriage or implant failure, there are many tests we can offer depending on your individual circumstances. Depending on what we discover, we can offer you different treatments to increase your chances of a successful implant.

 

If you want more information about any of these exams and to find out if they are right for you, call us at  (+30) 2310 277 032 to make an appointment. We also have detailed patient information records for all our examinations and treatments.

 

 

* The content on this blog is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health care providers with questions you may have about medical conditions.

 

Center for Reproductive and Fetal Medicine

Effective doctor-patient communication is vital to providing high-quality health care. Any communication regarding your medical profile (getting results, instructions, answering questions, concerns) will be done directly with the doctor. This means no midwife or secretary will interrupt your conversations. Instead, if you call with any concerns, they will be there right away to address your needs. Contact us by calling 694 649 8771 or by completing the relevant Contact Form.

Dr. Alexandros Traianos

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FREQUENT QUESTIONS

The association of IVF drugs with cancer risk is a major concern for women enrolled in these programs. But the plethora of bibliographic reports collected from credible scientific studies and published in reputable medical journals worldwide are reassuring and do not confirm this concern.

Of course not. In about a third of cases, infertility is due to the woman (female factor), while in a third of cases, it is due to the man (male factor). The remaining one-third is due to both (both men and women) or even to unknown factors.

The quantity and quality of a man's sperm can be affected by his health and lifestyle. Some factors that can reduce the quantity and / or quality of sperm are:

  • the alcohol
  • drugs
  • environmental toxins, including pesticides and lead
  • smoking
  • health problems
  • medicines
  • radiotherapy and chemotherapy
  • the age

Success rates vary at each IVF Center. Very important factors are also the age of the woman, the levels of her hormones and of course the sperm of the husband. Rates generally range from 45% or slightly higher for women up to 35 years old.

Infertility is defined as the failure to conceive after one year (or 6 months, if it is a woman over 35) with normal, regular sexual intercourse. In other words, when a year passes without the woman becoming pregnant, the couple should consult their doctor to determine the cause of the pregnancy and then treat it. We must all, however, be aware and not forget that the age factor is the most critical for female fertility and that the individualized approach of each couple is the "golden key" that solves the problem.

The number of treatment cycles a woman can undergo is not specified. It is certain that in our country there are high level obstetricians-gynecologists and organized infertility treatment centers, which offer impeccable medical services at this level. If there are correct indications (eg ovaries that respond to stimulation therapy, good quality endometrium, etc.) the success rate -especially with the use of newer techniques and biotechnological drugs, which show increased bioactivity compared to conventional drugs from urine- totals approximately 65%-70% after 4 cycles of treatment.

At the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Dr. Traianos we offer egg / sperm cryopreservation services for those who have a personal or medical reason and need this service. We use the most modern vitrification technique in the freezing of sperm and eggs.

The collection of eggs takes 10-15 minutes, it is not painful, it is done under intoxication and after the end of the process you return to your activities.

In general, experts agree that the fact that a couple has already had a child can be considered evidence that there is no infertility problem in the first place. It is like a small test that has been done and proves that they "succeeded" at least once. On the other hand, we need to know that in the meantime things may have changed and a problem may have arisen (eg the man may have had some inflammation that affects the quality of his sperm or has mediated something that affects female fertility: an inflammation, a gynecological surgery, an abortion, etc.). In any case, if a reasonable period of time (one year) passes and a couple can not achieve a pregnancy, then he should with the help of his doctor investigate if there has been a problem that causes infertility.