Following a nutritious diet before embryo transfer enhances your immune system, promotes uterine blood flow, and reduces the risk of gestational diabetes.
Prioritize healthy fats, organic foods, lean proteins, hydration, and vitamins while avoiding processed meats, refined sugars, raw foods, soy products, and salty dishes. This diet aids IVF success by maintaining hormonal balance.
Proper nutrition is crucial for the success of IVF, just as it is for natural pregnancies. This article covers recommended foods, breakfast choices, and dietary exclusions before embryo transfer.
Does the Food Intake During IVF Affect Fertility?
For successful IVF, medical interventions and factors like diet also play a major role. A healthy and balanced diet can help in improving the success rates of IVF treatment.
Having a diet with vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats can enhance fertility and health. Foods like processed foods, sugars, and saturated fats can affect fertility. Patients undergoing IVF treatment discuss with their doctors about diet to get more chances of pregnancy.
What Type of Food to Eat Before Embryo Transfer?
The main key to pregnancy is a healthy body and receptive uterus. Many IVF specialists say that healthy habits, changes in lifestyle, and proper diet before embryo transfer can impact the chances of conceiving a baby by assisted reproduction.
For a successful IVF, it is advisable to follow the dietary guidelines for three to six months before embryo transfer. Foods to consume before embryo transfer can include various nutrient-rich options. Some are
- Organic foods,
- Vitamin B12,
- Plant-based proteins,
- Plant-based fats,
- Vitamin D,
- Vitamin B12,
- Omega-3 fatty acids,
- Lipoic acid,
- Warm, digestible foods,
- Plenty of water.
Organic foods
Eating organic foods can reduce the risk of pregnancy diabetes, preeclampsia, and birth defects due to the absence of harmful chemicals. This aids a healthier pregnancy before and after embryo transfer.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 can help reduce the risk of miscarriage and strengthen the linings of the endometrium. A vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to irregular or no ovulation. Hence, by adding vitamin B12-rich foods like eggs, caviar, cheese, mutton, beef, fish, etc., complications can be prevented, and IVF pregnancy chances can be increased.
Plant-based proteins
Plant-based proteins help in increasing blood cell count, thus warming the body and improving the health of the mother. Because of this, adding plant-based proteins to the diet before embryo transfer can be a better choice.
Foods including leafy greens, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, tofu, collards, kale, soya, sweet potatoes, and broad beans, as well as gluten-free whole grains like quinoa and brown rice, must be included in your diet before embryo transfer.
Plant-based fats
Patients must avoid fats like saturated and trans fats before embryo transfer. However, it is necessary to intake healthy fats as they are essential for hormone synthesis. Foods like salmon, olive, avocado, nuts, and seeds like flax seeds, chia seeds, sesame, coconut oil, and olive oil, contain rich healthy fats.
Saturated fats such as butter, biscuits, salami, cheese, white chocolate, chorizo, bacon, puddings, and sausages can reduce the number of mature eggs produced by ovaries. As having more mature eggs can help in increasing pregnancy chances through IVF, the inclusion of plant-based fats in your diet is necessary.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps in the production of sex hormones and maintaining ovulation. Vitamin D can be sourced from eggs, cod liver oil, dairy, fatty fish, and sunlight.
Omega 3 fats
Omega 3 fats are essential for the development of the brain and retina of the fetus. They also help prevent preterm delivery and enhance the volume of breast milk. Hence, it is recommended that you intake omega-3 fats before embryo transfer to prepare your body for implantation.
Omega 3 fats can be found in fish oils produced from salmon, mackerel, and sardines. However, these oils may contain toxins like heavy metals and dioxins, so they must be taken twice weekly. Omega 3 can also be obtained from other sources, such as eggs, chia seeds, walnuts, soybean oil, and so on.
Lipoic acid
Lipoic acid is an important food that must be included in the diet before embryo transfer. Lipoic acid has antioxidants that can help in increasing sperm quality and motility as well as protect the reproductive organs of women. It can be seen in broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts, red meat, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes.
Warm digestible foods
Before embryo transfer, it is necessary to include warm and digestible food in your diet. Because intake of warm, fresh, and easily digestible foods can reduce the use of energy for digestion and more energy can be used for critical activities like implantation.
However cold and slow digestive foods can take more energy from the body for digestion and less energy will remain for implantation in the body. Cold foods include cold smoothies, ice creams, raw vegetables, and so on.
Plenty of water
It will be feasible if you can get used to drinking three litres of water daily before the IVF treatment. It is necessary to stay hydrated as it can improve the nutrient absorption. Water-based foods like coconut water, fruit juices, or any fresh drinks can be taken.
Foods to avoid before embryo transfer
There are some foods that you need to avoid before embryo transfer to increase the chances of pregnancy. Some of such foods are,
- Red meat and their products
- Alcohol and caffeine
- White foods
- Raw seafood
- Some types of cheese
- Artificial sweeteners
- Allergenic foods
- Raw egg
- Refined sugar
- Salt
- Foods containing soy
Conclusion
It is essential to have a proper diet before embryo transfer, as it can increase the chances of pregnancy. Healthy foods can act as a support for IVF treatment. Along with a healthy diet, it is important to exercise regularly, manage stress, and sleep well can help in increasing the chances of pregnancy through IVF.
Iron supports oxygen transport and reduces anaemia risk, which is important for overall health.
They increase blood cell count and improve overall health.
Yes, they provide sustained energy and fibre.
Adequate sleep supports overall health and hormonal balance.
Yes, moderate exercise supports overall health and fertility.
Yes, excessive salt can affect blood pressure and overall health.
