What Is IVF And How Does It Help Women Over The Age Of 30?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment used to assist people struggling with conceiving a child. The process involves multiple steps which include harvesting eggs from the donor, fertilizing the egg with sperm cells outside of the body, and implanting the egg into the donor’s uterus. Women are born with all the eggs the body will ever have, and each month an unfertilized egg leaves the body during the menstrual cycle. Fertility starts to decline in a woman’s 30s, and a healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. The woman’s ability to reproduce drastically declines by the mid-40s.
How does IVF help older women struggling with fertility?
IVF treatment requires doctors to evaluate the current health of the woman and the eggs. Doctors give patients medication that speeds up the egg maturation process and remove eggs from the body for implantation. This process is ideal for women that still produce viable eggs but have problems with natural conception.
What are some tips to help women prepare for fertility treatments?
Typically, the IVF process takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks. During this time, doctors prepare the patient’s body for egg retrieval and implant the eggs back into the body. Before an IVF cycle begins, there are things women can do to prepare the body.
1. Eat better foods
Leading a healthier lifestyle benefits IVF candidates in a variety of ways. For IVF patients, a healthier lifestyle improves the chances of conception. Experts suggest that a woman prepare the body for IVF treatments 3-6 months in advance. Foods that are good for women include eggs, nuts, and whole grains.
2. Take vitamins
Patients can take prenatal vitamins and a multivitamin to prepare the body for treatments. Prenatal vitamins contain a wide array of vitamins and nutrients like folic acid, calcium, and iron that are vital for a fetus’ growth. Women typically take prenatal vitamins after the start of pregnancy, but IVF candidates can take these vitamins in preparation for the fertilized embryo. A multivitamin is always a good way to ensure the body is getting the required daily nutrients.
3. Stop smoking and drinking
The chemicals in cigarettes and liquor can have an adverse effect on the body and make conception very difficult. Doctors will tell patients to quit smoking at least 6 months before the start of IVF treatments and to reduce alcohol intake.
The benefit of a specialist
A fertility specialist will be well-versed in tips and techniques used to prepare the body for a healthy pregnancy. The advice and knowledge of a fertility specialist will help patients make the right decisions regarding IVF treatments.
