Doctors reveal what to do for a successful IVF cycle

(Dan Tri) - IVF is one of the most powerful "weapons" to solve the problem of infertility. However, to be successful, couples need to be well prepared right from the start, even 2-3 months in advance.

What preparations should be made before IVF to optimize success?

On September 26, Dan Tri newspaper coordinated with Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh Hospital to organize an online discussion with the topic "Care before, during and after IVF cycle - Welcoming healthy children home".

Dr. Nguyen Binh Duong , Head of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh Hospital, said that IVF is no longer a far-fetched technique, but is becoming more and more popular. According to statistics in Vietnam, each year there can be up to hundreds of thousands of cases that have to undergo IVF.

However, even in the centers with the highest success rates, the number of live births is only about 40%. The success rate of each embryo transfer with a good quality embryo is currently only about 60-70%.

The preparation for IVF is a stage that should be invested more time and effort to optimize the chances of success. However, in reality, we have not really paid much attention to this aspect.

Through practical experience, Dr. Duong has found that if there is prior preparation, the success rate of IVF will be much higher. This preparation comes from many aspects, from the wife, the husband and especially the psychological factor.

Doctor Nguyen Binh Duong, Head of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility and BSCKI Nguyen Van Hoang, Clinical Doctor of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh Hospital shared at the seminar (Photo: Thanh Dong).

For the wife, it is important to understand that the egg is the factor that determines 80% of the volume of the embryo and the material that the baby receives. The process of egg formation does not take place immediately in the month of IVF but has started about two months before.

Similarly, in the two months before the eggs are retrieved, if the woman has problems with menstrual irregularities (cycles that are too long or too short), the subsequent batch of eggs will often be affected as well.

In addition, if during that time the woman is not in the best physical condition, for example, is stressed or has other medical conditions, the quality of the eggs, when stimulated, will often be worse than those who have been carefully prepared.

Therefore, doctors advise that if you intend to do IVF and have enough time, you should come for a check-up early, at least two menstrual cycles before starting. At that time, the doctor can assess the current state of the uterus, determine if any abnormalities need to be treated, or if the ovaries need to be adjusted to stabilize the cycle, thereby helping to choose the best "egg batch".

For men, although their role in providing genetic material is similar to that of women, the preparation is both easier and more difficult.

“It is easier because with ICSI technology today, a man only needs one live sperm to be able to become a father. However, it is more difficult because measures such as diet, rest, nutrition, etc. do not significantly affect sperm quality in the short term,” Dr. Duong analyzed.

According to Dr. Hoang, eggs need to be prepared for about 2-3 months, sperm for about 3 months (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Similarly, Specialist Doctor I (BSCKI) Nguyen Van Hoang, Clinical Doctor of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh Hospital, added that eggs need to be prepared for at least two to three months. For sperm, it takes about three months to complete the maturation process.

Many studies have shown that the use of alcohol, beer, tobacco or stimulants has a negative impact on reproductive function. When these factors are avoided, the quality of eggs and sperm can be significantly improved, while increasing the success rate of treatment.

Therefore, preparation should start as early as possible. The ideal time to change habits and improve physical condition is two to three months before IVF.

“However, changing these habits is often not easy. To achieve positive results and increase the success rate, both husband and wife need to have great perseverance and determination,” Dr. Hoang emphasized.

In addition, according to Dr. Duong, currently, there is no test that can comprehensively assess the quality of each specific egg. Therefore, the factor with the highest predictive value today is still the woman's age. During the examination, the doctor can identify factors that reduce egg quality, such as endometriosis.

An equally important issue is the psychological factor. In fact, cases of prolonged stress often have low egg counts and poor egg quality after stimulation.

“Therefore, maintaining a stable mental state and moderate activity is very important. We should only expect children or perform assisted reproductive techniques when we are truly mentally ready,” Dr. Duong emphasized.

At the same time, attention should also be paid to nutrition, especially in overweight cases. At IVF Hong Ngoc Phuc Truong Minh, doctors work closely with the Nutrition Department.

Nutritionists will create personalized menus for each patient. While conventional nutritional recommendations are limited to general guidelines such as how much protein, how much fat, how much fiber per day, personalized menus are designed based on the patient's eating habits and preferences.

In addition, the uterine lining is one of the most important factors affecting the success of an IVF cycle. The lining is considered the "land" for the embryo to nest and develop. Good lining preparation will contribute to increasing the success rate.

Dr. Duong recommends that pregnant women should not worry too much about symptoms during pregnancy (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Specifically, according to Dr. Duong, when entering a mucosal preparation cycle, the doctor may prescribe many different regimens, depending on the specific condition of each patient. These regimens may include the use of exogenous hormones to stimulate the development of the mucosa.

In some cases, the doctor will prescribe an ovarian stimulation protocol to create a dominant follicle. This dominant follicle will help the body produce endogenous hormones, thereby supporting better development of the endometrium.

In addition to hormonal regimens, other medications may also be used to help. For example, vitamin E or aspirin, a drug with anticoagulant effects, helps increase blood circulation to the uterus and effectively nourishes the lining.

In addition to drug methods, there are also non-drug measures that can help improve the condition of the mucosa, in which the mental factor is very important. Women need to maintain a positive, cheerful mental state, avoid anxiety and prolonged stress.

A relaxed state of mind can go a long way in improving the quality of your mucous membranes. Adequate and deep sleep is also important.

In addition, a gentle exercise regimen is also essential. Activities such as walking, yoga, or swimming help support blood circulation and improve the condition of the mucous membranes naturally.

Nutritionally, many foods containing phytoestrogens - plant-based estrogens - also have positive effects. Soy products, avocados or durian are all foods that can help improve the condition of the uterine lining.

“Hong Ngoc Phuc Truong Minh IVF Center is implementing many other specialized support methods. One of them is acupuncture. This method has been recognized by many studies to be effective in improving the thickness and quality of the endometrium, while increasing the pregnancy rate in IVF cycles,” Dr. Duong shared.

In addition, for cases where the above measures have not yet brought about the desired results, a more in-depth intervention option can be applied, which is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy. This is also one of the modern methods used to improve the uterine lining, increasing the success rate of assisted reproductive technology.

Symptoms that require immediate medical attention when doing IVF

Dr. Duong said that IVF pregnancy is an artificial pregnancy and in the first 3 months there is a tendency to bleed more easily. Symptoms can be blood seeping into pants, soaking into sanitary napkins, usually drops of pink or red blood.

This makes many women extremely worried, because most of them have waited a long time to have this pregnancy, some only a few months, some up to twenty years. In the profession, this condition is called threatened miscarriage.

Two experts from Hong Ngoc Hospital - Phuc Truong Minh shared at the seminar (Photo: Thanh Dong).

Therefore, it should be emphasized that IVF pregnancies in the first three months have a higher risk of miscarriage than natural pregnancies. If bleeding occurs after embryo transfer, women should be careful but not panic, because most cases encounter this condition.

The reason is that IVF pregnancy requires the use of many hormones to reduce uterine contractions, preventing the gestational sac from being expelled.

These hormones also reduce contractions in other organs such as the intestines, leading to poor bowel movements, thereby causing constipation. Combined with anxiety and the habit of eating a lot of nutrients during this period, constipation often becomes worse. In addition, bloating or flatulence are also common symptoms and are generally not too worrying.

Another aspect is morning sickness. Some women experience it early, some later, and some don’t experience it at all throughout their pregnancy.

“There are many different symptoms that can appear during the first three months of IVF pregnancy. The most important thing is not to focus too much on them.

Instead, you should distract yourself with light activities such as reading, listening to music, watching movies to keep your mind relaxed. Many symptoms do not actually affect the fetus, but excessive anxiety can negatively impact the development of the fetus," Dr. Duong analyzed.

Dr. Hoang added that after embryo transfer, each woman may experience different symptoms depending on her body. Some signs can predict a good prognosis, but there are also warning signs that require immediate examination.

The first case is severe abdominal pain, continuous or intermittent. This is an abnormal sign, requiring timely examination. The second case is bleeding.

“If there is only a little pink blood, it could be a sign of implantation, which is considered a positive sign. However, if there is a lot of bleeding, the patient should go to a medical facility for immediate examination. In addition, other symptoms such as prolonged high fever are also dangerous factors that need to be treated early.

The above signs can directly affect pregnancy, so patients need to monitor closely and see a doctor immediately if abnormalities appear," Dr. Hoang noted.

Dr. Duong emphasized that currently, medical technology has developed significantly, providing many “weapons” to solve the problem of infertility. However, the important factor lies not only in the technique but also in choosing the right treatment facility.

“At Hong Ngoc - Phuc Truong Minh, we always try to maintain the philosophy of personalized treatment, which means that each patient is handled by a doctor from beginning to end, understanding every detail of the treatment process. Nowadays, many large centers are also following this trend.

Choose a place you feel confident in and put your full trust in the doctor. Because in fact, not only us but all other colleagues in the field of reproductive support have the same desire: to become the "ferryman" to help patients overcome the arduous journey to the shore of happiness to welcome the child they have been waiting for", Dr. Duong said.

According to Dr. Hoang, the IVF journey is a long and sacred one. Some families go through it smoothly, but others have to go through countless difficulties, with their own stories full of tears and hope.

“I hope that every family will soon be able to welcome their beloved child home so that their happiness will be complete. And I would like to say that we must be truly persistent and determined, because the sweet fruit will come to those who persevere to the end,” said Dr. Hoang.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/bac-si-bat-mi-nhung-dieu-can-lam-de-co-chu-ky-ivf-thanh-cong-20250927110522511.htm