With the help of your Kofinas Fertility Group doctor, you’ve decided that in vitro fertilization is the best option for increasing your chances of conception. Making this decision isn’t easy. It’s an involved medical procedure and it’s also a significant investment. You’ll obviously want to do everything you can to make sure that the procedure has the best chances of succeeding. Your doctor will go over the full list of lifestyle changes that you’ll want to make before, during, and after IVF treatments, but in the meantime, you should know that there are certain foods out there that could sabotage your attempt.
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, there are some foods known to naturally support the bodily functions that enhance fertility. On the other hand, there are also some foods that can actually inhibit fertility, and these are the foods that you’ll want to avoid when going through IVF.
Empty Carbs
The carbohydrates found in refined and processed foods are absolutely to be avoided while preparing for and undergoing in vitro fertilization. Research has shown that chances of ovulatory failure increase in women whose diets are high in processed cereals and white rice. Focus on whole grains, and get more of your carbs from fruits and vegetables instead.
Refined Sugar
Sugar is a survival food. This means the body burns through it quickly and often experiences dramatic changes in blood sugar as it’s metabolized. When blood sugar is off, the body responds with insulin. Too much insulin or wild swings in insulin levels can result in insulin resistance, which has a negative effect on fertility.
Coffee
This one is very difficult for many people, but reducing your intake of caffeine can dramatically increase your chances of successful IVF. “If you drink more than five cups of coffee a day, you reduce your chances of achieving pregnancy during IVF treatment by 50%,” DR. Ulrik Kesmodel, a consultant gynecologist at the Fertility Clinic of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, told Women Fitness.
If you have additional questions about diet and lifestyle rules during IVF treatment, contact Kofinas Fertility Group today.