Have you been trying but failing to achieve a healthy pregnancy? And is your doctor saying this is caused by a thin endometrium? Then this article is for you.
The endometrial thickness is a crucial factor in determining whether you can have a successful pregnancy. Your endometrium needs to be thick enough to cushion the embryo into its tissues and support its growth.
In this article, we will discuss all you can do to ensure you have a thick endometrium while undergoing your IVF treatments. So, if your infertility issue is a thin endometrium, get ready. You are about to learn some interesting ways to tackle this issue.
How To Increase Endometrial Thickness For IVF?
As you must already know, a thick endometrium ensures a successful pregnancy. Here are some methods you can follow to improve your endometrial thickness and increase its receptivity to the incoming embryo after embryo transfer.
Medical interventions
Suppose your doctor identifies a thin endometrium. In that case, he will suggest estrogen and progesterone supplements (oral pills, vaginal suppositories, or patches) to improve the condition and thicken your endometrium.
During your menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone are the key players in thickening your endometrium for embryo implantation. If your body does not naturally produce the hormones, you can take supplements to support endometrial growth.
Dietary changes
A healthy diet containing all the essential nutrients is crucial for a safe and healthy IVF pregnancy, whether you have a thin endometrium or not. Focus on maintaining a healthy diet and ensure you include lots of fiber, folate, L-citrulline, L-arginine, etc.
Some foods you can eat for a thick endometrium are
- Fresh fruits and vegetables (oranges, watermelon, lemons, pomegranate, leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, etc.)
- Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, mackerel, sardines, walnuts, flaxseeds, etc.)
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Avocados
- Nuts & seeds
Lifestyle changes
It is not just your endometrial thickness; an unhealthy lifestyle can affect your overall reproductive health by disrupting your hormone balance. So avoid harmful habits like smoking, alcohol, drugs, and eating fried or processed foods for a few months before and after your IVF treatments.
Incorporate these healthy lifestyle modifications for better endometrium and reproductive health.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Eat healthy foods rich in essential nutrients
- Manage stress
- Maintain a proper sleep schedule
- Exercise regularly
What Is The Endometrium And Its Role In Pregnancy?
So, we have been talking about endometrial thickness and how it is important for pregnancy. But do you know what an endometrium is and what role it plays in pregnancy? Let’s find out.
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. It is also called the uterine lining. During every menstrual cycle, your uterus will grow the endometrial lining.
If fertilization happens, the egg will implant into the lining to then grow into a healthy baby. If fertilization does not happen, the endometrial tissue along with the unfertilized egg, will be expelled during your periods.
If fertilization does happen, the fertilized egg will reach the uterus and implant into the endometrial lining. The endometrium needs to be thick enough so that it can serve as a cushion when the embryo buries deep into the lining.
The embryo also receives nutrition from the blood vessels in the endometrium. This makes having a thick enough endometrium a crucial factor in determining whether you can get pregnant and carry that pregnancy until childbirth.
What Is A Good Endometrial Thickness For IVF?
Generally, for IVF, your fertility doctor consider an endometrial thickness of 7–12 mm to be optimum for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy. Below is a breakdown of what is considered the low, average, and maximum endometrial thickness.
Thin endometrium: An endometrial thickness of less than 7 mm is considered a thin endometrium. The chances of pregnancy are very low at this stage.
Optimal thickness: An endometrial thickness of 7–12 mm is considered a good thickness for embryo implantation and pregnancy.
Too thick endometrium: An endometrium over 12 mm thick can provide an unfavorable environment for the embryo to develop and grow healthily.
Conclusion
Remember, your endometrial thickness will differ based on several factors like your age, health, fertility conditions, etc.
So, discuss your optimum endometrial thickness with your fertility doctor, take measures to reach it, and then start your IVF treatments. This can ensure you have a higher chance of success in your IVF pregnancy.
Blood circulation is important to thicken your endometrial lining. So, yes, though walking won’t directly affect the endometrial lining, it can help thicken it by improving blood flow to the reproductive organs.
There is no way for you to increase endometrial thickness in 2 days naturally. It is a gradual process. Focus on a healthy diet and follow the measures your doctor recommends you to. This can help thicken your endometrium as days go by.
With the proper medication and lifestyle modifications, your endometrium can thicken gradually at a pace of 1–2 mm per week. If the conditions are better, your endometrium can reach optimum thickness in about three weeks.
