Lifestyle Impact

Lifestyle Modifications

Curious about what you can do to make the most of your treatment plan? Here are some basic modifications we recommended.

In general, considering fertility options or going through treatment can involve a few steps, a bit of a learning curve for most, and some flexibility in your schedule. While you won’t need to miss a significant amount of time in your usual routine (aside from a handful of 30-60 min. appointments, travel to get here, and a morning off if you do an egg retrieval), this is a good time to slow down and take it easy, to maximize your mental health and well-being.

More specifically:

• Food: eat whatever you like! A balanced diet is best.
• Alcohol: is fine in moderation, or about ~2 drinks daily
• Exercise: is fine until 1 week before/after retrieval, then you’ll want to avoid any activity that involves a lot of jumping. Walking, yoga, biking are fine.
• Sexual intercourse: is fine with protection until day 5 of ovarian stimulation.
• Caffeine: in moderation, with a recommended max of about ~2 cups daily.
• Travel: during ovarian stimulation, you’ll be coming in for 5-6 morning monitoring appointments, and will want to get lots of rest. While you can travel if you absolutely must and can do an outside monitoring appointment with a local doctor, we do recommend you staying in town if possible.
• Socializing: many patients say they benefited from having some quiet time, to take care of to-do’s within the home and even enjoy complementary therapies like acupuncture and massage, spa treatments, and whatever else helps them relax.

That said, we know our patients lead very busy lives! Please know our goal is to minimize the impact and ease your care experience however we can. Get in touch to learn more or come to a free monthly info session.

What should I eat?

People ask this all the time and unfortunately, you’ll hear varying (conflicting) opinions from different people in and outside of our field. At Spring, we recommend a healthy, balanced diet with proper hydration. Avoiding highly processed foods and anything that doesn’t have nutritional value is always smart. Beyond that, be good to you!

What about vitamins?

We recommend taking prenatal multivitamins that have a healthy amount of folic acid and Calcium with Vitamin D. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, and is good for spine and brain development. Other supplements to consider are CoQ10 and DHEA, however evidence for these are limited.

Can I drink alcohol?

Many people find this a good time to pursue their healthiest habits. Alcohol is fine in moderation until 2-3 days before your egg retrieval but should be avoided post-transfer.

How about coffee?

Research suggests mild to moderate caffeine intake is not associated with any adverse outcomes. Up to 2 cups of coffee per day are not associated with any worse outcomes. Some studies suggest that 3 or more cups of coffee per day when pregnant may increase the risk of miscarriage.

Can I smoke?

No. In addition to numerous other health risks, cigarette smoking is a reproductive toxin. It accelerates the loss of eggs and can advance menopause. Less is known about marijuana.

Can I exercise?

Yes. Exercise is encouraged as part of a healthy lifestyle. At key points, you’ll want to take it easy. Moderate exercise is fine until around day 5 of stimulation, then we recommend low impact activities like biking, hiking, yoga, or walking. After your retrieval, we recommend taking it easy from strenuous activities for about a week. The week before and after your transfer, you’ll also want to rest.

What about acupuncture and massage?

Many of our patients report positive effects of acupuncture and massage on their comfort levels and overall well-being. Even a brief massage can greatly improve relaxation and state of mind, while helping to flush toxins from the body.

If you decide to do acupuncture, most herbal remedies should be fine prior to ovarian stimulation, but we recommend stopping them once we begin. Please do not use any herbs or preparations that contain hormones, blood thinning agents, or blood clotting properties.

Spring Fertility enjoys productive relationships with several acupuncturists and is willing to work with your acupuncturist to provide integrated and holistic care.

What about hot tubs or jacuzzis?

Hot tubs are fine through the egg retrieval, but should be avoided after an embryo transfer. Older studies suggested the potential for elevated core body temperature to affect early embryo development.

Can I travel?

Travel is fine, as long as you can make it to your monitoring appointments during stimulation and are local and well-rested leading up to your retrieval and transfer. If you need to be out of town for a few days, you can find a fertility center there to do a monitoring appointment or two. When traveling long distances, you can keep refrigerated meds in a cooler pack and the TSA should let you through airport security just fine (though it’s wise to bring a note from your doctor which we can provide).

How can we support each other?

Trying to conceive can be one of the most stressful times for relationships and individuals. Research has shown that anxiety levels can be similar to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, heart disease, and HIV.

While acupuncture, yoga, and meditation are helpful for some patients, communicating and supporting your partner is important. There is no “right” way to react to the medicines and process. Respecting each other’s stress and sensitivities is key. Many of our patients can find additional support and strength through support groups or mental health professionals.

How do I get started?