IVF

Preparing body and mind for an IVF cycle

5 min read · MyBloomingBelly editorial

Once an IVF cycle starts, the protocol drives the calendar. But the two to three months BEFORE stimulation belong entirely to you — and because eggs and sperm both mature over roughly 90 days, this window genuinely influences the cells your cycle will work with.

The body work, in order of evidence: stop smoking completely (both partners — it measurably lowers egg and sperm quality and IVF success); bring alcohol to zero or near-zero; sleep 7–8 hours; move daily but moderately; and if BMI is high or low, even partial correction improves response to stimulation. She starts folic acid now (400 mcg, or as prescribed) plus vitamin D if low; he eats for sperm (zinc, folate, omega-3s, colourful antioxidants). Supplements beyond these — CoQ10, DHEA and friends — have mixed evidence: reasonable to discuss, unreasonable to self-prescribe.