CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

8 Ways to Boost Your IVF Odds

The road to that BFP may be a little less rocky with help from some of these tools and techniques.
save article
profile picture of K. Aleisha Fetters
By K. Aleisha Fetters, Contributing Writer
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Fuse/Thinkstock.com

When it comes to baby making, one out of three aren’t great odds. Unfortunately, most women have a 20 to 35 percent chance of each IVF cycle sticking. And the fact that the average IVF cycle costs $12,400 makes things seem even bleaker. But thanks to technology and research, there are some ways to fight those odds.

1. Time-lapse embryo screenings

Typically, endocrinologists have to take embryos out of their incubators to screen them, which puts them at risk from exposure. (That’s why most labs only inspect embryos once a day.) But thanks to two new high-tech screening systems Eeva and Embryoscope, doctors are now able to get a safer and more complete picture. “Video is a part of everyday modern life, and fertility treatments these days are no different,” says reproductive endocrinologist Thomas A. Molinaro, MD. These more advanced, noninvasive images are helping increase the odds of picking viable embryos, which in turn will likely lead to more babies.

2. Day-of transfer acupuncture

You’re probably a pro at getting needle injections by now so what’s a few more pricks if it may increase your embryo’s odds of sticking? “It’s thought that acupuncture may improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and stimulate the release of neurotransmitters, which travel in the blood and may also improve outcomes,” Molinaro says. For the best results, you want to time your treatments. In one study, women who received acupuncture on the day of the embryo transfer were more likely to get pregnant than those who didn’t. “Overall, there is little downside to acupuncture as far as we can tell. Patients who are interested in it should feel comfortable adding it to their IVF care,” he says.

3. Vitamin D supplementation

If you’ve gone through several rounds of IVF with no luck, it may be time to check your vitamin D levels. According to recent research, women low in vitamin D are nearly half as likely to conceive through IVF as women with more normal levels. While the majority of your body’s vitamin D comes from sun exposure, a balanced Mediterranean diet rich in fatty fish like salmon and tuna can also help improve your levels, says William B. Schoolcraft, MD. Just keep in mind that it may take up to 60 days for any nutritional changes you make to have an impact on your success rate.

Related Video

4. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Does your partner’s sperm need an extra helping hand? Then this treatment’s for you. During traditional IVF, fertilization takes place in a petri dish, so it’s still up to that sperm to somehow find its way into the egg, just like it would during sex. “That’s why poor sperm quality can lower a couple’s chances of conceiving through IVF,” Molinaro says. With ICSI, doctors can inject a single sperm directly into the egg, making the process much more precise and increasing the chances of fertilization.

5. DHEA supplements

About one-third of IVF centers worldwide are treating patients with DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) supplements, and one study even found that women who took them during their IVF treatments were three times more likely to conceive. That’s pretty promising, right? Though doctors aren’t sure exactly why it works yet, giving your body an extra boost of this hormone not only seems to improve egg quality and development, it can lead to a healthy pregnancy and delivery too. If your reproductive endocrinologist recommends it as an option, you’ll likely start taking the suggested dosage—usually between 25 to 200 milligrams a day—about six to eight weeks or more before your next round of IVF.

6. Healthy BMI

Get yourself to the gym and it can get you one step closer to being pregnant. How’s that for motivation? According to a study from the Fertility Center of Illinois, an unhealthy BMI can reduce your IVF success rate, and getting that number back into a healthy range can have a significant positive impact on conception, particularly in women younger than 36. “While being 10 pounds under or overweight is unlikely to affect IVF success rates, extremes on both ends can make a large difference,” Schoolcraft says. The goal is aim for a healthy BMI, which falls between 18.5 and 24.9.

7. Comprehensive chromosomal screening

Along with those time-lapse imaging systems we mentioned, this is another high-tech technique endocrinologists are using to improve the embryo screening process. “Sometimes beautiful-looking embryos are chromosomally imbalanced and will likely lead to a failed cycle or miscarriage,” Molinaro says. So rather than relying on visual cues and just eyeballing embryos to find the best ones of the bunch, this new procedure actually biopsies a few of an embryo’s cells to determine its true chromosomal quality and cut down the guesswork.

8. High success clinics

Just because it’s a few blocks away doesn’t mean a particular clinic is your best bet, says Molinaro, who recommends making sure any facility you use offers odds-making treatments like the ones in this article. And definitely do your research on a clinic’s success rates before making a decision. While most clinics operate very similar to one another, the conditions of their labs, in which the embryos grow prior to implantation, can have a huge impact on whether or not IVF works for you, Schoolcraft says. Look up the success rates for clinics by state here, where you can find out how many of the clinic’s cycles result in pregnancy, birth and even twins.

Experts:
Thomas A. Molinaro, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist with the Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey; William B. Schoolcraft, MD, H.C.L.D., founder and medical director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Embryos are frozen and stored in the cryo store at Birmingham Women's Hospital fertility clinic on January 22, 2015 in Birmingham, England.
Alabama Puts Law in Place to Protect IVF Clinics and Patients
By Wyndi Kappes
Lala Kent at the "Vanderpump Rules" Season 11 Premiere held at the Hollywood Palladium on January 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Vanderpump Rules’ Lala Kent Is Pregnant With Baby No. 2
By Wyndi Kappes
dads denied ivf by insurance write children's book "you come from love"
Dad Initially Denied IVF by Insurance Pens Children’s Book
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
twin baby feet in black and white
Record-Breaking Twins Are Born From Embryos Frozen 30 Years Ago
By Wyndi Kappes
liquid nitrogen straws with frozen embryos and egg cells
Frozen Embryos Linked to Increased Risk of High Blood Pressure
By Wyndi Kappes
kourtney kardashian and travis barker at the oscars
Kourtney Kardashian Opens About Her IVF Journey With Travis Barker
By Nehal Aggarwal
parent holds newborn in hospital after birth
California Couple Sues Fertility Clinic Over Devastating IVF Mix-Up
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
IVF: What to Know About in Vitro Fertilization
IVF: What to Know About in Vitro Fertilization
By Maggie Overfelt
bravo tv star writes book for children explaining infertility
Bravo TV Star’s New Book Wants to Teach Kids IVF Is Totally Normal
By Nehal Aggarwal
actress amy schumer posts about her egg retrieval procedure
Amy Schumer Is Staying Positive Through Egg Retrieval Procedure
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
amy schumer with chris fischer
Amy Schumer Reveals IVF Struggle and Reaches Out to Fans for Support
By Nehal Aggarwal
mina starsiak hawk opens up about her infertility struggles on instagram
HGTV Star Mina Starsiak Reveals Infertility Struggle and IVF Journey
By Nehal Aggarwal
new parents happily holding their newborn baby
This Picture Book Wants to Teach Kids That IVF Is Completely Normal
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
chrissy teigen and john legend sitting together at en event
John Legend Gets Real on How IVF Changed His Relationship With Teigen
By Nehal Aggarwal
mom opens up about her decision to have her children via reciprocal ivf
How Reciprocal IVF Let Two Moms Both Be a Part of Creating Their Baby
By Christina Bailey
birthday cake with confetti sprinkles
World’s First IVF Baby Celebrates 41st Birthday
By Stephanie Grassullo
doctor folding his arms in medical environment
Mom Claps Back at Doctor Who Said IVF Allows ‘Disease-Prone’ People to Have Babies
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Baby born with genes from three different people.
How a Baby in Greece Was Born With Genes From Three People
By Stephanie Grassullo
woman reflects on her emotional ivf journey
New Mom Reflects on the Emotional Roller Coaster That Is IVF
By Stephanie Grassullo
woman at work looking at her phone
Women Want Fertility Benefits So Badly They're Willing to Switch Jobs, Survey Reveals
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List