MAXIMIZING SUCCESS RATE OF IVF, EGG DONOR AND
SURROGACY TREATMENTS

You can significantly contribute to the successful outcome of your infertility treatment. Optimizing your health and selecting a treatment plan of two or more treatment cycles can have a considerable impact on the probability of a successful pregnancy.


Having more than one cycle of ivf, egg donor or surrogacy treatment can substantially increase the likelihood of having a baby. The following graph illustrates the increase in live birth probability if you decide to have more than one cycle of treatment. In this example, we used an arbitrary 35% live birth probability per treatment. Your actual likelihood of a live birth could be higher or lower.


Nova IVF provides a diverse selection of very competitive multiple cycle treatment fee plans which can significantly reduce your per cycle cost.


Your physical condition could make the difference between successfully achieving a live birth and going through years of frustration of unfulfilled dreams. We urge both partners to adhere to the following recommendations as closely as feasible and to start implementing them as soon as possible.

1. Optimize your body's acid-alkaline balance
   
   The pH of our blood is slightly alkaline. If we eat acidic food, our bodies have to work extra hard to keep the blood in an alkaline state. This extra work stresses our body and can lead to decrease of our fertility potential.
   
   The choices of foods that we eat affect this balance. The typical North American diet is highly acidic. The best way to maintain the proper blood pH balance is to avoid acid producing foods and increase consumption of alkaline foods. Try not to go out to eat; prepare your own food as much as possible.
   
   Eliminate or minimize the intake of the following acid-forming foods:
   
   
   • All grains including corn, oat and flour-based foods (breads, pastas, pastry, dumplings, tortillas, chips...) except buckwheat and white rice up to 1 cup (cooked) a day
   • Dairy (cheese) except milk, buttermilk, kefir and yogurt up to 1 cup a day
   • Alcohol
   • Coffee except de-caffeinated up to 2 cups a day
   • Cocoa (use carob products instead)
   • Nuts (except hazelnuts)
   • Beans/legumes except up to 1 cup (cooked) a day (not canned!)
   • Cranberry
   • Processed meat (salami, sausages, hotdogs, canned meat)
   
   Increase intake of the following alkaline foods:
   
   

   Apples	Cantaloupe	Grapefruit	Parsley
   Apricots	Carrots	Grapes	Peach
   Artichoke	Cauliflower	Kale	Pear
   Asparagus	Celery	Kiwi	Persimmon
   Avocado	Chard	Lemon	Pineapple
   Bananas	Coconut	Lettuce	Potatoes
   Berries (all)	Cucumber	Mango	Raisins
   Beets	Dates	Melons (all)	Spinach
   Bell peppers	Eggplant	Nectarine	Salad mix
   Bok choy	Figs	Olives	String beans
   Broccoli	Garlic	Onions	Sweet potatoes
   Brussel sprouts	Ginger	Orange	Tomatoes
   Cabbage	Green peas	Papaya	Zucchini

   
   
2. Consume an abundance of essential fatty acids:
   
   
   • Deep-sea fish and fish oil from non-polluted sources (PDF)
   • Flaxseed and pumpkin seed oils
   • Broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, kale, collards, cabbage and brussel sprouts
   • Raw seeds
   • Eggs (no more than one a day on average)
   
   
3. Eliminate or minimize intake of trans fatty acids (very important):
   
   
   • Fried foods (if you must have occasional fried food, use coconut oil only)
   • Vegetable shortening
   • Margarine
   • Lard
   • Animal fat
   • Hydrogenated vegetable oils
   • Junk food
   
   
4. Vitamins
   
   Take high-potency, high-quality natural multivitamins and mineral supplements (both partners-very important). Take a minimum of 1mg of Folic Acid daily.
   
   
5. Exercise
   
   Unless you exercise regularly, several times a week, start daily walks (outdoors!) for a minimum of 45 minutes each.
   
   
6. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
   
   Many everyday products off-gas VOC's. It is very important to minimize your exposure (both partners) to VOC's:
   
   
   • Petroleum products (avoid car exhaust fumes and solvents, use disposable gloves when filling up your car)
   • Off-gassing from plastics and building materials (do not drive a new car when trying to conceive, do not remodel your home or buy a newly constructed house)
   • No exposure to cigarette smoke (both partners)
   • Eliminate or minimize use of perfumes and colognes (unscented deodorant is ok)
   • Do not dry-clean your clothes
   • Eliminate air fresheners at home and in your car(s)
   • Consider purchasing a VOC-scrubbing air purifier for your bedroom if you sleep with the windows closed (search internet for "voc air purifier")
   
   
7. Fire Retardant Chemicals
   
   There is evidence that flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBEs), can reduce fertility. Nearly all Americans tested had trace levels of flame retardants in their body.
   
   Try to minimize your exposure to flame retardants by using bedding and pajamas that are fire retardant free.
   
   
8. Smoking
   
   You must not smoke. Cigarette smoking, including passive cigarette smoke exposure, has been shown to have a dramatic adverse effect on oocyte (egg) quality and could also decrease the male fertility potential.
   
   Smoking appears to accelerate the loss of eggs and reproductive function and may advance the time of menopause by several years. There is an increased risk of miscarriage and genetic abnormalities in offspring among smokers.
   
   
9. Stress
   
   Get plenty of sleep and try to minimize your everyday stresses.
   
   
10. Acupuncture
    
    It is ok to have acupuncture (PDF).
    
    
11. Chinese medicine
    
    It is ok to use Chinese herbs as long as they are for strengthening your health only and do not have any female hormone-like effect.

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