Lifestyle/home prep - is it needed?

[Cornish13]

Has anyone not completely switched up their life and had a successful IVF round? We’re not starting treatment yet, still having tests but I’m trying to prepare.

I see a lot about cutting out perfumes, cutting out all chemicals, cutting out foods and eating a certain diet and taking supplements etc. I just find it all too much and very daunting, especially alongside the stress of IVF in general. We do take supplements anyway and I have stopped the plug ins around the house and don’t use candles as much. It’s hard to judge where the line is. My diet has changed in general as I want to shift some weight but that’s more calorie counting so I am still having sugars in my tea and eating chocolate rather than eating an apple 😂 I’ve also cut out having my hair coloured and switched to decaf. But I am still using my daily Estée Lauder perfume, sure deodorant, fairy laundry pods and comfort softener. Is it ok to switch some things but not all? Or just live life normally? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Live life normally as much as possible. IVF is enough of a life-sucking monster on its own that you don't need to cut out other niceties.

There's a good book called 'It starts with the egg', which discusses many of these factors - there is a chapter on plastic, etc.- but I wouldn't worry too much!

Maybe rather focus on a few basics:

• You mention your weight - BMI can definitely play a role in infertility.
• If you smoke or drink a lot - stop smoking and drink less.
• Certain supplements can be helpful depending on your situation but in my 5 years of IVF no Dr has ever suggested any and the ones I take are purely based on my own research.

We have unexplained infertility which is a bugger because there's no 'answer' as to what is wrong. In this way, it is very tempting to try and control external factors like chemicals in the hope that it makes a difference, but it's such a small part of it all that you can get a bit lost.

We have a daughter through IVF and are trying for a sibling. My advice to anyone starting out is to keep your expectations low but be kind to yourself throughout. If you feel better having your hair coloured or having a glass of wine - go do it.

I’m with you OP. I’ve tried to make some easy swaps, eco washing powder, glass Tupperware, fragrance free shampoo/ conditioner. I only wear make up on the 2 days I have to go into the office. But still have a cup of coffee in the morning and a small glass of wine on a Friday night.

I’m finding it a mental tightrope between feeling like I’m doing everything I can so if it doesn’t work I don’t have regrets, but then on the other hand not falling into not punishing myself for not living “clean” enough.

Good luck!!

@loulamay yes I’ve read that book, which is when I then went down the rabbit hole and over thought everything 😂 I have stopped the plug ins around the house but still use wax melts. I did try switching to different brands of shampoos and conditioners but my hair was not a fan. And also tried different laundry products but they weren’t great. I use glass containers anyway as I hate the plastic ones as it leaves an after taste 😂

My BMI is currently 29.3 which I know in the grand scheme of things isn’t massive but I know it can be better.

Neither myself or my partner smoke. We do drink occasionally for events but I could probably count on one hand the times I’ve drank think year.

Supplements I did start after reading the book. We both take 600mg ubiquinol, vitamin D, omega 3 and my partner takes wellman conception max. I was taking a pre conception multi vitamin but the B vitamins was causing havoc with my skin as I have/had acne so I’m thinking of just taking individual folate.

We do already have a daughter. We conceived her naturally, by some miracle. So although we already have a child, doing IVF is a new thing. We did do some testing in 2019 (before we conceived) and there was severe MFI and he has an analysis tomorrow so I’m fully expecting it to the same unfortunately.

My monthly treat is my nails! Always makes me feel slightly more human 😂

@Hep1989 I did try making those swaps. I tried x3 different laundry products and I hated them all 😂 also tried a different dishwasher product but that didn’t actually clean the dishes. And also tried x2 different shampoos and conditioners which made my hair feel awful. What products have you found and liked?

My main thing is sugar. I know a lot of sugar can be an issue but massively have a sweet tooth. I was having sweeteners is my tea/coffee but then I thought ah crap the chemicals and switched to actual sugar. And I like to eat a lot of chocolate 😂alcohol I can live without but not sugary snacks haha.

But yes I’m struggling with how much should I/could I change. And if I don’t do it will I blame myself 🙄

I was massively addicted to cola. Had to drink it every day. I read ultra processed people and downloaded a sobriety app, which felt a been dramatic but it did feel like an addiction. It took me a couple of go’s but I’ve not had a sip since March time. I’m drinking a lot of sparkling water though. Maybe you need to find something that hits the spot, but is a bit healthier?

I like two squares of dark chocolate after dinner. Enough to feel like I’ve had a sweet treat but I don’t like it enough to eat the whole packet. I couldn’t have milk chocolate in the house or I’d just eat the lot!

Beyond the basics of a nutrient rich antioxidant heavy diet, abstaining from alcohol, exercise and controlling your BMI, a lot of recommendations are either pseudo-science or people just needing to feel like they're doing something to help. In reality it's pretty much determined by luck + age + AMH/AFC.

I'd personally advocate for whatever causes least stress - whether that's living pretty normally or doing the whole acupuncture thing.

I didn't do any of that and have had IVF success. I wouldn't stress about any of that.

I've yet to make any changes apart from no alcohol during cycles, but drank up to starting, and I've been taking supplements but im often quite slack with that. I'm on my first round for male factor, if this doesn't work I'll consider being stricter next time but not dramatically so.

My friend ttc for 3 years, she was obsessive, did all the acupuncture, cut out booze, followed strict diet, lost weight, she started buying lots of food / cosmetic products online so that they came only wrapped in cardboard and wouldn't use any product in plastic packaging, or use her microwave. She had a round of ivf that failed. Couple months later she piled weight on, went on a hen do which was pretty much a 5 day bender abroad, got covid, but fell naturally that month...absolutely no way am I saying the more unhealthy you are the better odds, definitely not, but I would not obsess over doing a life style change, unless you think one is needed for other reasons.